Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos “remains committed to the publication,” according to the paper’s top editor, who spoke publicly just hours after hundreds of employees were laid off.
“He wants the Post to be a bigger, relevant, thriving institution,” executive editor Matt Murray told CNN in an interview Wednesday.
The layoffs were extensive. Roughly one in three employees were cut, including more than 300 newsroom staffers, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The move intensified scrutiny of Bezos’ leadership and reignited speculation inside the newsroom about whether he might sell the paper.
Many journalists remain skeptical. Some argue that “the institution can’t cut its way to growth,” while others have openly expressed hope that Bezos will step aside.
“If Jeff Bezos is no longer willing to invest in the mission that has defined this paper for generations and serve the millions who depend on Post journalism, then The Post deserves a steward that will,” the Post Guild said in a statement.
A Push for Profitability and “Reinvention”
Bezos has not publicly outlined his current vision for the Post. However, he has privately urged management to reverse annual losses, restore profitability, and find a sustainable path forward.
Murray declined to discuss specific conversations with Bezos or say when they last spoke, but described Wednesday as a “reset” day and said the owner supports “reinvention.”
“I can say from my perspective, Jeff is nothing but supportive of getting the house in order and being positioned for growth,” Murray said.
He also emphasized Bezos’ hands-off approach to editorial decisions.
“And he is perfect, from my perspective as head of the news department, about being an owner that does not interfere in the news mandate; doesn’t dictate anything that we do; doesn’t respond to stories; doesn’t drive coverage; and understands the needs and imperatives of what we’re trying to do with our journalism. That’s what I like in an owner.”
‘Save the Post’ and Internal Frustration
As layoffs unfolded, Post employees organized online around the hashtag #SaveThePost, a slogan that Murray said actually originated with Bezos himself.
“The first time I ever heard the words ‘save the Post,’ they were uttered by Jeff Bezos,” Murray said.
He pointed to remarks Bezos made at The New York Times’ DealBook conference at the end of 2024, when the owner said: “We saved The Washington Post once, and we’re going to save it a second time.”
Murray, who was officially appointed executive editor around that same period, became the main public face of the layoffs. Some employees questioned the absence of publisher and CEO Will Lewis, who did not communicate directly with staff.
Defending Leadership and New Revenue Experiments
Bezos personally appointed Lewis two years ago to turn the Post’s fortunes around, but employees say results have been limited. Murray defended Lewis’ tenure.
“Will has been working to create alternative sources of revenue,” Murray said, adding that Lewis has been “working to develop different kinds of AI and product technology.”
“Some of that’s experimental. I can’t say it’s all worked, but also, having an experimental mindset is part of what we needed.”
Murray also said Lewis has improved the Post’s digital subscription business, describing it as “in a far, far better place than it was.”
That claim comes despite the Post shedding hundreds of thousands of subscribers after Bezos blocked a planned editorial endorsement of Kamala Harris in late 2024.
Concerns Over Politics and Editorial Independence
Subsequent changes to the opinion section heightened concerns among readers and staff that Bezos was attempting to curry favor with President Donald Trump, potentially benefiting Amazon and Blue Origin.
Murray said such perceptions are outside the newsroom’s control but urged critics to focus on the paper’s reporting.
“Our job should be reporting on Trump aggressively without fear or favor, and that’s what we’re here to do,” he said. “We’re continuing to do that, and our brilliant staff is producing a lot of great work on that front, as you know, because we’re breaking a lot of scoops.”
Reporting Continues Despite Deep Cuts
When asked about coverage of Amazon following the layoff of its beat reporter, Caroline O’Donovan, Murray said the Post would continue reporting on the company.
“Technology remains important to us,” he said, even as employees said more than half of the tech beat reporters were cut.
“We had to make some very hard calls in different areas today,” Murray said, noting that some reductions were meant for short-term stabilization rather than a permanent scaling back of ambitions.
Asked whether he considered resigning instead of carrying out the layoffs, Murray declined to answer directly.
“I want to have the chance to see if we can get the Post to a better place,” he said. “That’s important because the Post is an important institution that should survive and should thrive.”
