Washington Post editor resigns after accusing CEO of killing column

[Wicked Blue]

Source: NBC

Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus resigned Monday after accusing the paper's CEO and publisher of killing her column criticizing owner Jeff Bezos' latest editorial edict.

Marcus, an associate editor and columnist with The Post's opinion section, is leaving the paper where she's been employed since 1984.

"We’re grateful for Ruth’s significant contributions to The Washington Post over the past 40 years," a spokesperson for The Washington Post said in a statement to NBC News. "We respect her decision to leave and wish her the best.”

In a resignation letter to Bezos and CEO William Lewis, Marcus said "independent judgement" is no longer in play at The Post opinion section and new editorial policies will "break the trust of readers that columnists are writing what they believe, and not what the owners has deemed acceptable."

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/washington-post-editor-ruth-marcus-resigns-accusing-ceo-killing-column-rcna195634

[JustAnotherGen]

1. I cancelled my subscription

Last summer when they went after a Biden like a bunch of screaming banshees. It expired 12/31/2024 at 11:59 PM.

Never going back again.

Get those MagaPublicans in the square states to spend the $99 a year.

WaPo deserves to go out of business. Their model relied on a subscribers at that $99 per year. It wasn't JUST adverstisers.

[ancianita]

5. Same.

[Mosby]

6. The LA times is almost $200/yr

The WSJ bundle is $650/yr.

Just saying.

[JustAnotherGen]

8. I make my employer

Pay for WSJ.

[Attilatheblond]

13. WaPo subscription cost me $139 last year, online edition only

Cancelled my Aug renewal months ago, before the Nov 2024 election, because Bezos became too tyrannical and obtuse.

Instead, start with:
The Atlantic
Mother Jones
The Guardian


add you recommendations in a comment

[Big Blue Marble]

15. Here are four more:

ProPublica
Talking Points Memo
The Bulwark
The Contrarian


Dropped my subscription to WP in August and it has continued to deteriorate since then.
Hopefully the last subscriber will turn of the lights, because the democratic aspect of the paper
is dead.

[StevieM]

20. Isn't the Guardian free?

I don't have a subscription, but I have read a lot of articles there.

[spooky3]

26. Yes, but they ask that readers contribute.

I do, to help them stay afloat and keep giving us good reporting.

[calimary]

37. Thank you for that!

[LauraInLA]

33. And Rolling Stone

[NeoConsSuck]

35. The New Yorker (NT)

[Deminpenn]

38. +1

nt

[SallyHemmings]

22. Same

And so did my friends.

[rambler_american]

24. My subscription expires

at the end of March. I will miss writers like Marcus, Milbank, Robinson and Petrie. I hope they all leave. They deserve a better platform.

[greatauntoftriplets]

28. I wonder what Alex Petri will do when she comes back from maternity leave.

She's not going to like the new orders either. I'm surprised that Dana Milbank is still there.

[DBoon]

30. I cancelled mine when Bezos canned the Kamala Harris endorsement

I will not pay for a paper that is the mouthpiece of a billionaire.

Bezos would have to pay me to read WAPO now.

[moniss]

2. Yes indeed all that Bezos wants is to use the

names and attach them to columns that tout the "company line".

[DBoon]

31. He bought a brand and is now driving that brand into the ground

typical vulture capitalist

[Wild blueberry]

3. Good for her!

She does excellent work; what a loss to WaPo.
Hope she will be vocal elsewhere.

[spooky3]

9. I wonder if she will join The Contrarians at Substack. Nt

[DENVERPOPS]

4. The last straw

I will be cancelling my subscription to WaPo, just as I did with the NY Times................

MAGAots don't read, you stupid idiots........You don't need to worry about them getting mad about what you print.............

[spooky3]

10. Sadly, I think Bezos doesn't care about the Post's integrity or profitability.

I thought he did 2013-2024. But now, it’s like Musk with Twitter.

That’s another problem with allowing too much money to accumulate in the hands of too few.

[DENVERPOPS]

11. Agreed

All of these modern day Robber Barrons could care less about their "cash cows"......They could all crash and burn, and it wouldn't phase them in the slightest....

[yardwork]

12. Agreed. It's just a tool to suck up to Trump.

Bezos doesn't care if the Post goes under. It's probably not been profitable for a while anyway. He's using it to suck up to Trump and get lucrative federal contracts for his other businesses.

Disgusting and sad. Our free press was sold to the highest bidders who then destroyed it.

[spooky3]

25. It's losing millions each year. Nt

[Grins]

7. We respect her decision to leave and wish her the best."

Leaving unanswered, the elephant-sized question in the room - Why?

Why did the editor kill the column of a 49 year journalist? Why?

[yardwork]

14. It's not like she was a wild-eyed radical.

Ruth Marcus was a cautious, middle of the road columnist. I can't imagine her axed column was more than polite disagreement with the boss. Can't have that in this new world order.

[LeftInTX]

16. Hubby's wanting me to cancel...I guess I could use the paywall unblocker....

I really hate to cancel because they are still the best national paper out there. I haven't had noticeable issues with right leanings yet. I really don't want it to collapse, because it is certainly better than Daily Caller etc. Journalism is really hurting in this US. I subscribe to the WaPo and the San Antonio Express-News. The local paper is more expensive than the Post. I also hope things will eventually change at the Post. Maybe in 4 years?

[Bev54]

18. Resistance often means some sacrifices

[LeftInTX]

23. If they lose all their subscribers, it will turn even more right wing.

At least that's how I see it.

The demise of journalism is spurning on more SM and fake news.

Yes, there are good sites out there, which I read and support, but they don't have as far a reaching base. Void will just lead to more SM reliance, fake news sites and RW sites.

[LauraInLA]

34. You might check your local library -- I can read several newspapers, even online!!!

[calimary]

39. Voting with one's wallet can sure help send a message.

I often wonder - “what if MY letter to the editor, or MY phone call to some of my reps was THE letter that tips a number over into a more impressive level?” Like - “what if MY (type of reach-out) was the one that tipped the scales, that made the difference, that turned the tide, that garnered more attention to the issue I wrote about?”

“What if…”

Or - “what if we do nothing because what’s the use (or it may not do any good)?”

FUCK THAT SHIT. Sometimes there COMES a time for all good men (and women) to come to the aid of not just their party but to THEIR COUNTRY.

Somebody’s gotta take the lead, and be the first to leave a mark. And it should be well-informed, currently connected, and full of “I DO give a damn!” activists and citizen movers and heroes. Those of us out there working or writing or marching or sign-holding or lobbying or helping to support those who do can and should help lead. I wouldn’t be surprised if some folks here aren’t there already.

[tonekat]

17. The Post is going to be devoid of talent soon

I hope their food writer lands someplace else, I cancelled my subscription a few weeks ago.

Change the name to "Bezos right wing propaganda rag".

[Wonder Why]

19. That will teach you that you should have resigned when the other people did. But then, I guess

it wasn't anything you cared about, Ms Marcus.

[Paladin]

21. Well done, Ruth Marcus.

I hope lots of other talent leaves the Post, and soon.

[spooky3]

27. WaPo continues to publish good stories--it's the editorial section

That has been decimated.

But I don’t know how long that will last.

It will be interesting to see how much longer Leonnig stays.

[vishnura]

29. WP

Cancelled my subscription.....I hope they die in the darkness!

[JPK]

32. Cancelled my daily digital edition NT

[badgervan]

36. It's Lewis

Rupert's trainee Lewis has to go....