OPINION:
Unless you work — or used to work, given the layoffs and closings of so many newspapers — in the declining profession of journalism, you may not be aware of the problems at The Washington Post.
Publisher Will Lewis resigned after owner Jeff Bezos announced a restructuring of the once-influential newspaper, which closed its entire sports section. One-third of the staff was fired, including at least 300 newsroom journalists.
This has been part of a pattern in the industry for several years, especially as younger people now get their “news” from the internet or read and watch only outlets that reinforce what they already believe. As a result, advertisers have also fled.
It didn’t help that more than 250,000 readers canceled their subscriptions after The Post declined to endorse Kamala Harris for president.
See what I mean about reinforcement?
Before it’s anything else, a newspaper — and every other media outlet — is a business. Consumers won’t buy a product they don’t like.
One of the problems Mr. Bezos tried to address was the liberal tilt of The Post, not only in its editorials and columns but also in how and what it covered and did not cover. Even the obituary page reflects a liberal worldview in the way it describes the deaths of known liberals and conservatives and the type of language the writers use to characterize the deceaseds’ lives: positive for liberals and less so for conservatives.
The Post has been living off its Watergate reputation for 50 years. Two generations have been born since those days, when Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein — whose book and movie “All the President’s Men” added to their fame and income — inspired more young people to want to become journalists.
The problem for The Post and so much of the media is that they have ignored or stereotyped a large portion of a lucrative demographic. This attitude gave rise to The Washington Times in 1982, after the closing of the Evening Star.
The Times, which is among the newspapers that carry this column, went after the audience The Post refused to pursue. Although it too struggles financially, the paper enjoys a loyal following, even though it is ignored by media insiders who have a liberal worldview.
A 2024 Gallup poll was in line with previous polls: “Americans continue to register record-low trust in the mass media, with 31% expressing a ‘great deal’ or ‘fair amount’ of confidence in the media to report the news ‘fully, accurately and fairly,’ similar to last year’s 32%. Americans’ trust in the media — such as newspapers, television and radio — first fell to 32% in 2016 and did so again last year.
“For the third consecutive year, more U.S. adults have no trust at all in the media (36%) than trust it a great deal or fair amount. Another 33% of Americans express ‘not very much’ confidence.”
This is the only business of which I am aware that appears not to care what its customers (now former customers) think. Would a restaurant continue to provide a menu that customers didn’t like? Would the owner tell the patron, “Too bad; it’s what I like, and you can take it or leave it”? The patron would leave it. Isn’t that what the major media have done with a similar result?
Growing up in suburban Washington, I had The Washington Post and Evening Star (and Daily News) in my home. These papers’ excellent journalism, along with my entry into the business as a copyboy at NBC News, contributed to my decision to be first a reporter and then a columnist.
Where do young people who are interested in pursuing a career in journalism go today? They probably won’t be applying for jobs at The Washington Post or other media outlets where the front door is opening for people on their way out.
• Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book, “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (Humanix Books).
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