Washington Post Faces Declining Readership and $100M Loss in 2024

The publication's daily traffic has dropped by 20 million users since 2021, prompting layoffs, leadership changes, and internal tensions over its future direction.

The Washington Post's daily web traffic fell from 22.5 million users in January 2021 to an average of 2.5-3 million in 2024, a decline of nearly 90%.
The company reported a $100 million loss in 2024, driven by reduced subscription revenue, declining ad sales, and a shrinking readership base.
Owner Jeff Bezos' decision to withhold an endorsement of Kamala Harris for president led to the cancellation of 250,000 subscriptions and fueled internal staff dissatisfaction.
The publication has seen an exodus of top editorial talent, with prominent reporters and editors leaving for rival outlets such as The Atlantic and ProPublica.
Leadership changes include Matt Murray being named permanent executive editor, with new policies introduced to separate opinion and news content and shift the newsroom's focus to audience engagement.