The Washington Post newsroom is bracing for potentially massive job cuts, with reports indicating up to 100–300 positions at risk across the company, as owner Jeff Bezos has remained publicly silent amid growing staff appeals and anxiety.
Staff journalists, including teams from the White House, foreign desk, and other sections, have sent impassioned letters and launched a visible social media campaign, often using #SaveThePost, to urge Bezos directly to reconsider or halt the reductions. They warn that deep cuts, especially to international coverage, sports, metro, and arts desks, could irreparably damage the paper's global accountability reporting, journalistic depth, and long-term relevance.
The looming changes, expected to be announced soon and possibly implemented early this month, stem from persistent financial losses at the Post, which has reportedly bled tens of millions annually in recent years despite its roughly 800-person newsroom. Leadership under CEO and publisher Will Lewis aims to reshape the organization by focusing resources on high-impact areas like video journalism, politics, and national security, core strengths seen as better aligned with reader interests and pathways to self-sustainability, a long-standing goal set by Bezos since his 2013 purchase of the paper.
Bezos, who has historically avoided direct interference in newsroom operations, has not responded publicly to the pleas or rumors. This silence contrasts with the staff's increasingly public desperation, as the Post continues high-profile journalism amid broader industry pressures like declining subscriptions and digital ad challenges.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions at the Bezos-owned outlet, which has faced prior buyouts and reductions, and raises questions about its future direction under current leadership.