Washington Post Opinion Editor quits as Jeff Bezos sets goals for 'new chapter'

Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos on Wednesday announced a "significant shift" to the newspaper’s opinion section, prompting the departure of editorial page editor David Shipley. The overhaul in policy marks a dramatic break from tradition, further unsettling the media organisation already grappling with years of instability and leadership changes.

In a note addressed to the publication’s team, Bezos clarified that while the paper would continue to explore a variety of topics, perspectives opposing these core values would no longer find a place in its opinion pages.

"I'm writing to let you know about a change coming to our opinion pages. We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets. We'll cover other topics too of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others," Bezos stated in a message shared on X.

The Amazon boss also elaborated on the reasoning behind this editorial pivot, pointing out that the role of newspapers in curating diverse opinions has evolved with the advent of digital platforms.

"There was a time when a newspaper, especially one that was a local monopoly, might have seen it as a service to bring to the reader’s doorstep every morning a broad-based opinion section that sought to cover all views. Today, the internet does that job," Bezos explained.

Furthermore, Bezos also shared that David Shipley would part ways with the company. Shipley had been offered a role in leading Bezos' planned changes, but decided not to continue with the role.

"I offered David Shipley, whom I greatly admire, the opportunity to lead this new chapter. I suggested to him that if the answer wasn't 'hell yes', then it had to be 'no'. After careful consideration, David decided to step away. This is a significant shift, it won’t be easy, and it will require 100% commitment — I respect his decision," Bezos said.