On Wednesday morning, February 26th, the founder and current chairman of the internet giant Amazon, Jeffrey Bezos, posted a statement on his social media X, shared with his team at The Washington Post, announcing a significant change coming to the newspaper’s opinion section.
In the statement, Bezos stated that The Washington Post’s mission and daily work will be to “support and defend two main pillars: individual freedom and free markets.” He added, “Of course, we will also cover other topics, but viewpoints opposing these two pillars will be published in other newspapers.”
He emphasized the inherent connection between freedom and morality, highlighting them as the two pillars of America’s success. “America’s success largely comes from economic freedom and freedom in various fields, which is based on morality. It brings down barriers and is pragmatic, driving creativity, invention, and prosperity.”
Bezos expressed the need for innovation at The Washington Post to avoid mediocrity, stating that “our country did not reach where it is today by being typical.”
He believes that The Washington Post needs to carve its own path in this era of highly developed internet. “There was a time when a newspaper, especially a locally dominant one, might consider offering a broad-based opinion column covering all perspectives as a service for readers every morning. But today, the internet has taken over this role.”
Bezos also mentioned David Shipley’s resignation as the opinion editor of the newspaper, calling it a significant change that is not easy and requires 100% commitment. He expressed respect for Shipley’s decision and stated that they will be looking for a new opinion editor to lead in this new direction.
In conclusion, Bezos reiterated the values of “free markets and individual freedom,” emphasizing that these viewpoints have not been adequately recognized in the current landscape of opinions and news commentary. He expressed his hope to work together with The Washington Post employees to “fill this gap.”