With David Shipley stepping down as editor of The Washington Post opinion pages, the newspaper’s owner, Jeff Bezos, has announced a dramatic shift in focus for the storied publication.
“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,” Bezos said on X on Tuesday.
The move would appear to bring the Post more in line with Rupert Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal opinion section, which has touted free markets along with conservative social viewpoints since he purchased the paper for $5 billion in 2007. And, similarly, The Economist and Michael Bloomberg’s Bloomberg Opinion tread in related territory.
Will Lewis, publisher and CEO of the paper, added in his own statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter: “I want to thank him [Bezos] for clearly and succinctly spelling out what we stand for at The Washington Post, and I will be so very proud for The Post to be known for its two key pillars: our belief in free markets and personal liberties.”
Lewis added that Shipley will leave The Washington Post on Friday after two years in the post as opinion pages editor. Bezos in his X post said he offered Shipley an opportunity to remain with the new-look opinion pages, but was turned down.
“I ask everyone to join me in thanking him [Shipley] for his service to our paper and our readers, as well as wishing him the best of luck in his future endeavors. I will be putting interim arrangements in place. David’s replacement will be announced in due course,” Lewis added.
Jeff Bezo’s social media post follows in full:
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. 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. I am of America and for America, and proud to be so. Our country did not get here by being typical.
And a big part of America’s success has been freedom in the economic realm and everywhere else. Freedom is ethical — it minimizes coercion — and practical — it drives creativity, invention, and prosperity. 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. We’ll be searching for a new Opinion Editor to own this new direction. I’m confident that free markets and personal liberties are right for America. I also believe these viewpoints are underserved in the current market of ideas and news opinion. I’m excited for us together to fill that void.
Jeff
Will Lewis’ note to Washington Post staff also follows in full:
Earlier today, our owner Jeff published a note explaining The Washington Post’s recalibrated content strategy for our opinion section. I want to thank him for clearly and succinctly spelling out what we stand for at The Washington Post, and I will be so very proud for The Post to be known for its two key pillars: our belief in free markets and personal liberties. I am very excited about this new clarity and transparency, and cannot wait to see it brought to life in our opinion section. Every day.
This is not about siding with any political party. This is about being crystal clear about what we stand for as a newspaper. Doing this is a critical part of serving as a premier news publication across America and for all Americans. With this coming change, David Shipley has decided to depart as the Editor of the Opinions section. David has been with us for just over two years and, in that time, has overseen a department and body of work that has resulted in two Pulitzer Prizes and two Loeb Awards.David leaves us this Friday, and I ask everyone to join me in thanking him for his service to our paper and our readers, as well as wishing him the best of luck in his future endeavors.
I will be putting interim arrangements in place. David’s replacement will be announced in due course. It will be someone who is wholehearted in their support for free markets and personal liberties.
Will