Democracy dies in darkness, huh? It also dies when a supposedly free press censors itself to kiss the ass of tyrants. What a sad chapter for a once great paper.
My Post subscription has expired and I have not renewed. Out of force of habit I’ve sometimes gone to their website, where they beg me to return. The regular subscription would have been $120. They had been offering me a special deal for $60. Today, that became $40. Less than a year of the Washington Pist. I wavered, but did not bite. This convinces me I made the right call. How long before they’re the Washington Past?
You will undoubtedly begin receiving successive emails jacking up the renewal incentives. The last I received offered: a tote bag, gas coupons, a personalized autographed photo of Jeff Bezos, ("You were always my favorite, Jeff") a half hour free parking in the 1441 L St. NW garage, and a 10 year renewal for $19.95. 😏️
I only keep my Post subscription for Carolyn Hax. If enough people quit, maybe she'll be on Substack as well. Problem is, Substack subscriptions add up very quickly. You guys need to figure out a multiple-subscription model that won't bankrupt people. I get the NYT and the WaPo for about $50/mo. That's less than 5 Substacks. Please make good news affordable!
I find it so weird that I first subscribed to the Post when tRump was first elected because I felt that it was so important to support free journalism. I cancelled my subscription of 8 years when Bezos refused to allow the paper to make an endorsement for Harris. Never would I have imagined it would come to this. I wonder what will become of journalism?
Ann Telnaes is one of the greats. Her style is simply beautiful, her wit razor sharp. I have a large file of her work and review it often to inspire me to do better work. I still remember they day many years ago when I discovered her and have followed her ever since.
I didn't cancel my WaPo this morning, I had canceled the day that spineless, greedy, asshole owner, Jeff Bozos, took chicken-shit to a new level and refused the paper to post it's support of Harris. I only wish I could cancel again. I had had problems with some of the Post's political sanewashing (word of the year) throughout the election but Bozos spinewashing cowardice became too much. Now with the resignation of Telnaes, I know I made the right decision. The NYT's has much the same problem. In my opinion both trump elections were in large part due to the failure of the media. Telnaes is a great loss, but her genius lives. I hope she will grow her Substack site— she will be in some very good company.
That was the quill that broke this camel's back -- I cancelled. And their labyrinthine accounts page made it impossible to accurately describe why I quit them. Good timing for their Stalinesque stance of not commenting on WaPo internal stuff. Staff just gets quietly deleted from the photo with the hiss of an airbrush.
I just cancelled, too and I also didn’t feel that any of the options they offered for why were sufficient, so I went to the contact page for opinions, there isn’t one for editorial, picked the name at the top and sent this email:
I just cancelled my subscription after 40 years of reading the Post because someone killed Ann Telnaes’ editorial cartoon lambasting the suckups of the technology sector. I didn’t cancel when Bezos wouldn’t let the Post endorse a presidential candidate because I thought about all the good work that so many people are doing, though I was tempted. I no longer have any desire to read what has become a shell of its former self. Maybe if someone grows a pair I would reconsider. Perhaps you should read this:
The this is a link to Gene’s post “Courage and Cowardice.” I hope that I sent it to the right person, David Shipley.
At least Ann could tell people why she left. I wouldn’t be surprised in the Post starts wanting its employees to sign NDAs, but for now sub stacks and bsky let her say what the Post won’t.
State sponsored and state controlled media. An absolutely terrifying thought, and we are nearing that stage. When Bezos killed the Harris endorsement, I cancelled my subscription, and I urge all who read these words to do the same. Darkness indeed.
I cancelled my WaPo subscription along with my NYT subscription during the “mass” protest, but lately I was kinda considering re-upping my WaPo subscription in support of the staff. Sorry, no. I just can’t do it.
Yes, there are some very worthy staff there but few great football players can't win with a shitty, corrupt coach and owner. I have left the stadium. All things have a lifespan, we must search elsewhere for the new 4th estate, which may be Substack.
Agree 100%, the good at these papers is not outweighing the absurdly bad. My hope lies in the large number of people who still believe in truth and facts and excellent commentary + art [like yours and Ann's]. I believe it will coalesce elsewhere, along with the Pist. I dropped NYT [my puzzles subscription will run out soon] and WaPo, am now checking out the Brit publications and Philly Inquirer, etc.
Andy Borowitz just published the cartoon in his Substack and wrote: "I’m publishing the rough draft of her cartoon above in the hopes that you’ll share it. If enough people do, it will reach a larger audience than if her WaPo editor had had the cojones to run it. Actually, given how many subscribers have fled the paper in recent months, reaching a larger audience than the Washington Post isn’t a daunting task."
Time for Bezos to sell the WaPo to someone who respects it. I believe that newspapers and television stations should not be owned by general conglomerates. Instead, they should be limited to ownership only by individuals, partnerships, corporations that own only that entity, or communications conglomerates.
Gene, thank you for sharing this story (not to mention the brilliant illustration at the root of it). I've missed Ann's cartoons since I canceled my WaPo subscription in October. Thanks for pointing us to her Substack, to which I've now subscribed.
Democracy dies in darkness, huh? It also dies when a supposedly free press censors itself to kiss the ass of tyrants. What a sad chapter for a once great paper.
It's pretty dark in the shadow of Trump's ass/ego.
My Post subscription has expired and I have not renewed. Out of force of habit I’ve sometimes gone to their website, where they beg me to return. The regular subscription would have been $120. They had been offering me a special deal for $60. Today, that became $40. Less than a year of the Washington Pist. I wavered, but did not bite. This convinces me I made the right call. How long before they’re the Washington Past?
You will undoubtedly begin receiving successive emails jacking up the renewal incentives. The last I received offered: a tote bag, gas coupons, a personalized autographed photo of Jeff Bezos, ("You were always my favorite, Jeff") a half hour free parking in the 1441 L St. NW garage, and a 10 year renewal for $19.95. 😏️
And yet I’d settle for a little less darkness.
I only keep my Post subscription for Carolyn Hax. If enough people quit, maybe she'll be on Substack as well. Problem is, Substack subscriptions add up very quickly. You guys need to figure out a multiple-subscription model that won't bankrupt people. I get the NYT and the WaPo for about $50/mo. That's less than 5 Substacks. Please make good news affordable!
Amen!
I find it so weird that I first subscribed to the Post when tRump was first elected because I felt that it was so important to support free journalism. I cancelled my subscription of 8 years when Bezos refused to allow the paper to make an endorsement for Harris. Never would I have imagined it would come to this. I wonder what will become of journalism?
Well done Ann. I hope that she has another way to keep a roof over her head and food on her table.
Maybe The Atlantic?
Ann Telnaes is one of the greats. Her style is simply beautiful, her wit razor sharp. I have a large file of her work and review it often to inspire me to do better work. I still remember they day many years ago when I discovered her and have followed her ever since.
I didn't cancel my WaPo this morning, I had canceled the day that spineless, greedy, asshole owner, Jeff Bozos, took chicken-shit to a new level and refused the paper to post it's support of Harris. I only wish I could cancel again. I had had problems with some of the Post's political sanewashing (word of the year) throughout the election but Bozos spinewashing cowardice became too much. Now with the resignation of Telnaes, I know I made the right decision. The NYT's has much the same problem. In my opinion both trump elections were in large part due to the failure of the media. Telnaes is a great loss, but her genius lives. I hope she will grow her Substack site— she will be in some very good company.
T
Thanks, Trevor. Agreed. And welcome to our sleazy little enclave!
Trevor needs to make sure he brings hand sanitizer. It does get funky here sometimes...which is why I love it!!!
That was the quill that broke this camel's back -- I cancelled. And their labyrinthine accounts page made it impossible to accurately describe why I quit them. Good timing for their Stalinesque stance of not commenting on WaPo internal stuff. Staff just gets quietly deleted from the photo with the hiss of an airbrush.
I just cancelled, too and I also didn’t feel that any of the options they offered for why were sufficient, so I went to the contact page for opinions, there isn’t one for editorial, picked the name at the top and sent this email:
I just cancelled my subscription after 40 years of reading the Post because someone killed Ann Telnaes’ editorial cartoon lambasting the suckups of the technology sector. I didn’t cancel when Bezos wouldn’t let the Post endorse a presidential candidate because I thought about all the good work that so many people are doing, though I was tempted. I no longer have any desire to read what has become a shell of its former self. Maybe if someone grows a pair I would reconsider. Perhaps you should read this:
The this is a link to Gene’s post “Courage and Cowardice.” I hope that I sent it to the right person, David Shipley.
Not sure why I haven't forked over a subscription to you before, Gene, but this Ann Telnaes moment finally did it. Thank you, Ann. And Gene.
At least Ann could tell people why she left. I wouldn’t be surprised in the Post starts wanting its employees to sign NDAs, but for now sub stacks and bsky let her say what the Post won’t.
I wonder if the Post makes its contributors sign non-compete agreements.
State sponsored and state controlled media. An absolutely terrifying thought, and we are nearing that stage. When Bezos killed the Harris endorsement, I cancelled my subscription, and I urge all who read these words to do the same. Darkness indeed.
I cancelled my WaPo subscription along with my NYT subscription during the “mass” protest, but lately I was kinda considering re-upping my WaPo subscription in support of the staff. Sorry, no. I just can’t do it.
Yes, there are some very worthy staff there but few great football players can't win with a shitty, corrupt coach and owner. I have left the stadium. All things have a lifespan, we must search elsewhere for the new 4th estate, which may be Substack.
T
Agree 100%, the good at these papers is not outweighing the absurdly bad. My hope lies in the large number of people who still believe in truth and facts and excellent commentary + art [like yours and Ann's]. I believe it will coalesce elsewhere, along with the Pist. I dropped NYT [my puzzles subscription will run out soon] and WaPo, am now checking out the Brit publications and Philly Inquirer, etc.
Andy Borowitz just published the cartoon in his Substack and wrote: "I’m publishing the rough draft of her cartoon above in the hopes that you’ll share it. If enough people do, it will reach a larger audience than if her WaPo editor had had the cojones to run it. Actually, given how many subscribers have fled the paper in recent months, reaching a larger audience than the Washington Post isn’t a daunting task."
Digby’s Hullabaloo has published it too.
Democracy Dies In Spinelessness
Time for Bezos to sell the WaPo to someone who respects it. I believe that newspapers and television stations should not be owned by general conglomerates. Instead, they should be limited to ownership only by individuals, partnerships, corporations that own only that entity, or communications conglomerates.
Maybe it will return to being a local paper, getting smaller and smaller, so it can reform from being a corporate vehicle.
Unfortunately you can't even use it to wrap fish or line the birdcage anymore. Damn digits spill all over the place!
Gene, thank you for sharing this story (not to mention the brilliant illustration at the root of it). I've missed Ann's cartoons since I canceled my WaPo subscription in October. Thanks for pointing us to her Substack, to which I've now subscribed.
If Ann thinks it's important enough to quit....
Thanks for the link to her Substack.