The Washington Post is navigating turbulent waters as it extends buyout offers to seasoned newsroom staff and entire teams within its opinion and video departments.
This move comes amid a significant talent drain and escalating financial challenges for the newspaper.
According to The Washington Free Beacon, the Voluntary Separation Program targets "news employees with 10 or more years' service at The Post, as well as to all members of the video department and to all members of the copy desk and sports copy desk," as outlined by Executive Editor Matt Murray in an internal memo.
Media reporter Ben Mullin noted that the buyouts also encompass staff in the opinion section. Mullin described the program as "a big 'are you in or out?' moment for the staff." Employees have until the end of July to make their decision.
The announcement arrives as the publication grapples with the departure of prominent staff members and a loss exceeding 250,000 subscribers. Notably, two editorial board members resigned in October, protesting owner Jeff Bezos's decision to prevent the board's endorsement of then-Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Ann Telnaes also exited earlier this year, and senior reporters Josh Dawsey, Ashley Parker, and Michael Scherer have moved to competing outlets.
Financially, the Post has been on shaky ground for several years, with New York magazine reporting a projected loss of $77 million in 2024. The opinion section has also seen upheaval, with editor David Shipley resigning in February following Bezos's announcement of a new editorial direction emphasizing "personal liberties and free markets."
Bezos had offered Shipley the chance to "lead this new chapter," but Shipley's response was either "hell yes" or "no," and he chose to depart.
Murray's memo indicates that the buyout initiative is "part of our ongoing newsroom transformation efforts aimed at reshaping and modernizing the newsroom for the current environment." He acknowledged the challenges of this transition, stating, "Reimagining the newsroom, rethinking all we do and how we do it, is disruptive and even uncomfortable." He conceded that the program would likely lead to the departure of "valued colleagues and friends."
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