The media industry was left shellshocked after the news that the Washington Post let go of about one-third of its staff recently. Here is a look at this massive restructuring and what it means for the future of one of the nation's most preeminent publications.

Washington Post Lays Off One-Third of Its Staff

Employees at the Washington Post were left reeling after being abruptly laid off. The mass layoffs impacted about one in three staffers, including over 300 employees of the newsroom. Despite the unrest, Washington Post executive editor Matt Murray said that the publication's owner, Jeff Bezos, remains committed to the mission. The paper's top editor defended the layoffs, saying that the decisions were made with the short-term stabilization of the business in mind.

The Post will close its books department and reduce the number of journalists that it sends overseas for international coverage. Lizzie Johnson, a foreign correspondent based in Ukraine, confirmed on social media that she was one of the reporters who lost their jobs as part of the layoffs. Johnson wrote that she was laid off while "in the middle of a warzone," expressing that she was devastated.

The local news department will also be restructured as part of the move. While the Post has a reputation of being the leading authority on national politics, the paper is also distinguished as being a strong proponent of local news coverage in and around Washington, D.C. Reporters working at the local desk pleaded with Bezos to keep the Post as a place that covers the nation's capital.

In addition, the media outlet is going to close its sports department.

According to data from media analytics company Comscore, traffic to the Post's website has dropped sharply in recent years. The site had 1.15 billion unique visits in 2025, compared to 1.23 billion in 2024 and 1.36 billion in 2023. Bezos purchased the Post for $250 million in 2013 as the publication was struggling with declining readership.

It should be noted that declining readership is not unique to the Post. Americans have been relying less on traditional media outlets to get their news as alternative social media sites become the norm.

Murray told CNN that Bezos "wants the Post to be a bigger, relevant, thriving institution." However, many journalists at the Post doubt this sentiment, as these layoffs fueled more skepticism about Bezos' commitment to journalism. There is also speculation that Bezos may be looking to sell the publication.

The Post Guild issued a statement after the layoffs that said the publication "deserves a steward" who will "invest in the mission that has defined this paper for generations." While Bezos has not publicly commented on his vision for the publication, he has reportedly urged management to make the Post profitable again.

Murray further noted that Wednesday was a "reset" for the paper. He went on to say that Bezos is working to position the publication for growth while still staying out of the editorial aspect of the paper's mission. Despite what many critics say about Bezos and his close relationship with President Donald Trump, Murray said that Bezos "does not drive coverage."

Employees Respond with #SaveThePost

Post employees have been rallying around each other in an effort to save jobs, using the hashtag SaveThePost to get their views out to the public. Murray defended his boss by saying that he first heard those words from Bezos himself. The comment came at the end of 2024 when Bezos spoke at The New York Times’ DealBook conference, assuring industry leaders that he saved the Post once and will do it a second time.

There is also a great deal of questions surrounding the role of publisher and CEO Will Lewis moving forward. Lewis did not communicate directly with employees regarding the layoffs. Instead, it was Murray who was the primary point of contact.

It was just two years ago that Bezos designated Lewis to turn the tide at the Post and make it a profitable venture. Murray defended Lewis' work over the last few years, praising his efforts to create alternative sources of revenue and his "experimental mindset."

Murray also noted that the Post is in a better place than it was two years ago in regard to its digital subscription business under Lewis' leadership. However, it was a well-known fact in industry circles that the Post lost thousands of subscribers in late 2024 when Bezos killed a planned editorial page endorsing former Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election.

Further changes to the publication's editorial section raised red flags that Bezos was using his ownership of the Post to appease the Trump administration. As the founder of both Amazon and Blue Origin, Bezos could benefit financially with favorable policies from the White House. Ironically, Caroline O'Donovan, the Post's Amazon beat reporter, was one of the employees who was laid off.

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