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Washington Post Columnist Resigns Over Bezos-Driven Opinion Section Overhaul

Ruth Marcus quit after her column criticizing Jeff Bezos' editorial changes was rejected, citing concerns about narrowing journalistic perspectives.

Ruth Marcus, then the deputy editorial page editor at the Washington Post, speaks at an event at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC, on October 10, 2018.
Image
A top columnist who quit The Washington Post revealed the piece that the paper’s CEO couldn’t stomach.
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Overview

  • Longtime Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus resigned after her critique of Jeff Bezos' opinion section revamp was not published by the paper.
  • Bezos directed the opinion section to focus on 'free markets and personal liberties,' which Marcus argued limits the diversity of viewpoints presented to readers.
  • Marcus' column, ultimately published in The New Yorker, criticized Bezos for narrowing editorial scope and questioned the ethical implications of owner influence.
  • The Washington Post has faced internal turmoil, including staff departures and subscription cancellations, following Bezos' editorial decisions, such as halting a presidential endorsement in 2024.
  • Marcus also criticized Bezos for appearing alongside tech executives at Trump's inauguration, suggesting it conveyed inappropriate political alignment.