Why Jennifer Rubin Left The Washington Post

Jennifer Rubin, a well-known columnist at The Washington Post, has decided to leave the newspaper. She's joining a new startup, but not without some harsh words for the paper's owner, Jeff Bezos. Rubin feels that big media owners like Bezos have let down their readers by trying to play nice with politicians, which isn't what journalism should be about. The Washington Post reportedly lost a lot of money last year, around $100 million, and their website traffic has dropped by 75% since the start of 2021. This led to some job cuts, with about 4% of the workforce being laid off, mostly from the public relations department. Rubin isn't the only one leaving. Several top journalists and editors, like Ashley Parker and Josh Dawsey, have also moved on, some expressing disappointment with how the paper handled certain decisions. For instance, Bezos blocked the editorial board from endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, which upset many readers and staff. Bezos defended his decision, arguing that endorsements can give the impression of bias, and he wants the paper to be seen as fair and unbiased. However, some see this as a way to keep on the good side of politicians who might influence regulations affecting his businesses.