A Dear Jeff Letter

Hello. Sigh.

Look,

… does not wish to become a daily offering. But stuff keeps coming. Today we have a letter from Washington Post staffers to owner Jeff Bezos, begging for a meeting to discuss what the hell is happening to the paper they love and he monetizes. Here it is, verbatim. I have never seen any communication in my business quite so …. plaintive.

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To Jeff Bezos:

You recently wrote that ensuring the long-term success and editorial independence of this newspaper is essential. We agree, and we believe you take as much pride in The Washington Post as we do.

We are deeply alarmed by recent leadership decisions that have led readers to question the integrity of this institution, broken with a tradition of transparency, and prompted some of our most distinguished colleagues to leave, with more departures imminent. This goes far beyond the issue of the presidential endorsement, which we recognize as the owner's prerogative. This is about retaining our competitive edge, restoring trust that has been lost, and reestablishing a relationship with leadership based on open communication.

We urge you to come to our office and meet with Post leaders, as you have in the past, about what has been happening at The Post. We understand the need for change, and we are eager to deliver the news in innovative ways. But we need a clear vision we can believe in.

We are committed to pursuing independent journalism that holds power to account and to reporting the news without fear or favor. That will never change. Nothing will shake our determination to follow the reporting wherever it leads.

As you wrote when you first became The Post's owner in 2013, "The values of The Post do not need changing." We urge you to stand with us in reaffirming those values.

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There were hundreds of signatories, including well-known names like chief national political correspondent Dan Balz and Pulitzer prizewinning investigative journalist Carol Leonnig.

Some are calling this letter a bit weak and vague. I disagree. I think it is a truth — not an ultimatum — spoken to power, at precisely the moment it has maximum potency. The letter is more mournful than caustic — its restraint is its strength, exercised wisely and shrewdly.

Yes, “… and with more departures imminent” is scary.

Yes, “We need a clear vision we can believe in” is a challenge.

Yes, “Nothing will shake our determination to follow the reporting wherever it leads” is, well, a threat.

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So, that’s all I really have to say here. It is at this point still-breaking news.

So far, the Wapo has not covered it.

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Today’s Gene Pool Gene Poll:

Thanks. See you tomorrow.

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