The Washington Post is experiencing a wave of subscriber cancellations following owner Jeff Bezos’s decision to block the paper’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for president. More than 200,000 digital subscribers have canceled their memberships, accounting for roughly 8% of the publication’s paid circulation, as backlash mounts against Bezos’s choice.
The decision, which came less than two weeks before the election, sparked criticism from former Post editors and columnists. Bezos stated that the move aimed to preserve the paper’s independence and avoid perceptions of bias. However, several prominent Post journalists and columnists, including Pulitzer Prize-winner David Hoffman, have resigned in protest, arguing that remaining silent could aid in undermining democracy.
Bezos, in an opinion piece, defended his decision as “principled” and unrelated to any business interests. He acknowledged, however, that his ownership and business ventures may not make him “an ideal owner” for the Post.
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