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The Washington Post is laying off a third of its workforce across both the newsroom and its business operations, a massive blow at a storied newspaper that has struggled in recent years to stay profitable. Geoff Bennett speaks to Marty Baron, who was editor of the Post from 2012...

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Former Washington Post editor Marty Baron says news organizations are important because the public "deserves" to know what is happening in the "corridors of power." "The role of a news organization is to give the public the information it needs and deserves to know so that they can govern themselves," he said. "The Washington Post has a long history of that and, particularly, of holding the government to account." Baron, who was editor of The Washington Post from 2012 until 2021, spoke to PBS News Hour's Geoff Bennett on Wednesday about the sweeping layoffs at the Post. The Post laid off a third of its workforce this week across both the newsroom and its business operations, a massive blow to a storied newspaper that has struggled recently to stay profitable. "The press is built into our democracy. It is provided for in the First Amendment to the Constitution because the founders understood that you needed an institution that would keep watch on government," Baron said. "We are not stenographers, and we should not be propagandists," he added. "That is the role that The Washington Post has historically played, and that's the role that it should continue to play."
1:57

Former Washington Post editor Marty Baron says news organizations are important because the public "deserves" to know what is happening in the "corridors of power." "The role of a news organization is to give the public the information it needs and deserves to know so that they can govern themselves," he said. "The Washington Post has a long history of that and, particularly, of holding the government to account." Baron, who was editor of The Washington Post from 2012 until 2021, spoke to PBS News Hour's Geoff Bennett on Wednesday about the sweeping layoffs at the Post. The Post laid off a third of its workforce this week across both the newsroom and its business operations, a massive blow to a storied newspaper that has struggled recently to stay profitable. "The press is built into our democracy. It is provided for in the First Amendment to the Constitution because the founders understood that you needed an institution that would keep watch on government," Baron said. "We are not stenographers, and we should not be propagandists," he added. "That is the role that The Washington Post has historically played, and that's the role that it should continue to play."

PBS News

14,147 views • 6 months ago

The Washington Post is cutting one‑third of its newsroom and other staff marking a significant blow to one of the industry’s most storied outlets. ABC News' Linsey Davis breaks it down by the numbers.
1:13

The Washington Post is cutting one‑third of its newsroom and other staff marking a significant blow to one of the industry’s most storied outlets. ABC News' Linsey Davis breaks it down by the numbers.

ABC News

29,203 views • 6 months ago

The recent raid on a Washington Post reporter’s home “demonstrates that this administration will put no limits whatsoever on its aggressions against a free and independent press,” warns former Washington Post exec editor Marty Baron.
3:33

The recent raid on a Washington Post reporter’s home “demonstrates that this administration will put no limits whatsoever on its aggressions against a free and independent press,” warns former Washington Post exec editor Marty Baron.

Christiane Amanpour

35,286 views • 6 months ago

The FBI arrested a 30-year-old man, Brian Cole Jr., in its investigation into who placed pipe bombs near the Republican and Democratic headquarters in Washington, D.C., on the eve of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack in 2021. Geoff Bennett speaks to Carol Leonnig, the reporter who broke the story, for more.
2:46

The FBI arrested a 30-year-old man, Brian Cole Jr., in its investigation into who placed pipe bombs near the Republican and Democratic headquarters in Washington, D.C., on the eve of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack in 2021. Geoff Bennett speaks to Carol Leonnig, the reporter who broke the story, for more.

PBS News

13,432 views • 8 months ago

🚨 BREAKING: The CEO and Publisher of Washington Post Will Lewis just STEPPED DOWN as the Fake News organization just had to lay off a third of its workforce Turns out, LYING and making up BS to manipulate the American people is a horrible business model TRUMP EFFECT 🔥
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🚨 BREAKING: The CEO and Publisher of Washington Post Will Lewis just STEPPED DOWN as the Fake News organization just had to lay off a third of its workforce Turns out, LYING and making up BS to manipulate the American people is a horrible business model TRUMP EFFECT 🔥

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284,255 views • 6 months ago

We investigated the Israeli strikes on nuclear scientists & facilities in Iran to understand the scope of the damage and the effects on its program. This was a dream collaboration with FRONTLINE Bellingcat & Evident Media. Our film takes you inside the reporting process—both from inside Iran and from the The Washington Post newsroom.
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We investigated the Israeli strikes on nuclear scientists & facilities in Iran to understand the scope of the damage and the effects on its program. This was a dream collaboration with FRONTLINE Bellingcat & Evident Media. Our film takes you inside the reporting process—both from inside Iran and from the The Washington Post newsroom.

Nilo Tabrizy

110,010 views • 8 months ago

CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin: “We just said the [Washington Post] laid off about 30% of its staff and there’s a lot of people out there who said, Jeff’s super wealthy, he’s talked about this being a public trust, it’s something that he bought early on, how much do you care about that piece of it? Why lay people up? Why fire people? Why are you subsidizing the business…” Jeff Bezos: “Because The Post needs to be a profitable enterprise that stands on its own two feet.” “What I told them, when we were planning those layoffs, I didn’t pick who was going to be laid off or which departments. I said, follow the data. Follow the data. And I said, there’s one exception to this. Don’t follow the data on investigative reporting. The heart of The Post is investigative reporting, and guess what? Our newsroom today, even after the layoffs, is still larger than when we did Watergate and the Pentagon Papers. And we just won the Pulitzer Prize for public service, the most prestigious Pulitzer for our investigation in the DOGE.” “The Post is going to continue to be an important institution. In fact, it’s going to be a more important institution because of this financial discipline. It needs to be relevant to readers. It needs stand on its own two feet. I don’t want it to be a charity. It doesn’t need to be and it shouldn’t be.” Andrew Ross Sorkin: “Do you want to own it?” Jeff Bezos: “Yes, my vision is still to make sure The Post is a, when I bought The Post, it was very unprofitable when I brought it. The newsroom was even smaller than it is today. We turned it around in two years, it was profitable for six years. I put all that money back in The Post and grew the newsroom, so we’ve shrunk it back some now. But we haven’t shrunk it back to what it was when I bought it.”
3:26

CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin: “We just said the [Washington Post] laid off about 30% of its staff and there’s a lot of people out there who said, Jeff’s super wealthy, he’s talked about this being a public trust, it’s something that he bought early on, how much do you care about that piece of it? Why lay people up? Why fire people? Why are you subsidizing the business…” Jeff Bezos: “Because The Post needs to be a profitable enterprise that stands on its own two feet.” “What I told them, when we were planning those layoffs, I didn’t pick who was going to be laid off or which departments. I said, follow the data. Follow the data. And I said, there’s one exception to this. Don’t follow the data on investigative reporting. The heart of The Post is investigative reporting, and guess what? Our newsroom today, even after the layoffs, is still larger than when we did Watergate and the Pentagon Papers. And we just won the Pulitzer Prize for public service, the most prestigious Pulitzer for our investigation in the DOGE.” “The Post is going to continue to be an important institution. In fact, it’s going to be a more important institution because of this financial discipline. It needs to be relevant to readers. It needs stand on its own two feet. I don’t want it to be a charity. It doesn’t need to be and it shouldn’t be.” Andrew Ross Sorkin: “Do you want to own it?” Jeff Bezos: “Yes, my vision is still to make sure The Post is a, when I bought The Post, it was very unprofitable when I brought it. The newsroom was even smaller than it is today. We turned it around in two years, it was profitable for six years. I put all that money back in The Post and grew the newsroom, so we’ve shrunk it back some now. But we haven’t shrunk it back to what it was when I bought it.”

RedWave Press

50,354 views • 3 months ago

The FBI searched the home of a Washington Post reporter as part of an investigation involving a government contractor accused of mishandling classified information. Hannah Natanson has been reporting on President Trump’s overhaul and downsizing of the federal government. Press freedom advocates sharply criticized the search, saying it's a dangerous escalation and raises serious First Amendment concerns. Geoff Bennett speaks to Gabe Rottman for more.
4:37

The FBI searched the home of a Washington Post reporter as part of an investigation involving a government contractor accused of mishandling classified information. Hannah Natanson has been reporting on President Trump’s overhaul and downsizing of the federal government. Press freedom advocates sharply criticized the search, saying it's a dangerous escalation and raises serious First Amendment concerns. Geoff Bennett speaks to Gabe Rottman for more.

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The firing of "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley marks the latest and most dramatic chapter in the upheaval surrounding the storied newsmagazine and CBS News, as Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss moves to reshape both the program and the news division more broadly. "This is journalistic interference," former "60 Minutes" correspondent Steve Kroft tells Geoff Bennett. "It makes no business sense whatsoever. It's the highest-rated news program on television, and it has been that way for more than 50 years."
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The firing of "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley marks the latest and most dramatic chapter in the upheaval surrounding the storied newsmagazine and CBS News, as Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss moves to reshape both the program and the news division more broadly. "This is journalistic interference," former "60 Minutes" correspondent Steve Kroft tells Geoff Bennett. "It makes no business sense whatsoever. It's the highest-rated news program on television, and it has been that way for more than 50 years."

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25,834 views • 2 months ago

The media is dying The Minnesota Star Tribune announces it's cutting 15% of its workforce - Cuts will be made across every department, including the newsroom - 25 journalists being laid off - 125 employees were laid off last year too after closing its downtown Minneapolis printing plant Calling anyone who works for the media “journalists” is a major stretch I found they are doing so poorly their workforce is being reduced to just their “Core news gatherers,” meaning reporters, photographers and videographers The paper is exploring a shift toward nonprofit foundation ownership (LOL here we go… money laundering funding to stay alive)
0:23

The media is dying The Minnesota Star Tribune announces it's cutting 15% of its workforce - Cuts will be made across every department, including the newsroom - 25 journalists being laid off - 125 employees were laid off last year too after closing its downtown Minneapolis printing plant Calling anyone who works for the media “journalists” is a major stretch I found they are doing so poorly their workforce is being reduced to just their “Core news gatherers,” meaning reporters, photographers and videographers The paper is exploring a shift toward nonprofit foundation ownership (LOL here we go… money laundering funding to stay alive)

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28,812 views • 2 months ago

Target is reeling as sales have stalled and its stock price has plunged. The company's decision to roll back its DEI initiatives prompted a boycott that has slowed store traffic nationwide and is among the factors that pushed CEO Brian Cornell to step down. Geoff Bennett speaks to Pastor Jamal Bryant, who spearheaded the boycott.
4:37

Target is reeling as sales have stalled and its stock price has plunged. The company's decision to roll back its DEI initiatives prompted a boycott that has slowed store traffic nationwide and is among the factors that pushed CEO Brian Cornell to step down. Geoff Bennett speaks to Pastor Jamal Bryant, who spearheaded the boycott.

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14,045 views • 1 year ago

Intuit is laying off more than 3,000 employees, about 17% of its workforce, as the company shifts focus toward AI-driven operations ahead of its next earnings report. Watch OAN on Spectrum and YouTube TV for updates.
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Intuit is laying off more than 3,000 employees, about 17% of its workforce, as the company shifts focus toward AI-driven operations ahead of its next earnings report. Watch OAN on Spectrum and YouTube TV for updates.

One America News

16,084 views • 3 months ago

Target is reeling as sales have stalled and its stock price has plunged. The company faced backlash after a rollback of its DEI initiatives prompted a boycott that slowed store traffic nationwide, one of the factors that pushed CEO Brian Cornell to step down. Now, Target is scrambling to reset its image. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Pastor Jamal Bryant, who spearheaded the Target boycott.
6:30

Target is reeling as sales have stalled and its stock price has plunged. The company faced backlash after a rollback of its DEI initiatives prompted a boycott that slowed store traffic nationwide, one of the factors that pushed CEO Brian Cornell to step down. Now, Target is scrambling to reset its image. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Pastor Jamal Bryant, who spearheaded the Target boycott.

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16,903 views • 1 year ago

Bill Moyers, a legend in the world of journalism and a longtime member of the extended PBS family, has died at the age of 91. Moyers was perhaps best known for the long-running programs and documentaries he produced at PBS, including "Bill Moyers Journal" and "Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth." For more on Moyers' life and career, Geoff Bennett speaks to Tom Casciato and William Brangham.
5:51

Bill Moyers, a legend in the world of journalism and a longtime member of the extended PBS family, has died at the age of 91. Moyers was perhaps best known for the long-running programs and documentaries he produced at PBS, including "Bill Moyers Journal" and "Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth." For more on Moyers' life and career, Geoff Bennett speaks to Tom Casciato and William Brangham.

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53,878 views • 1 year ago

“The Post readership is liberal, and the post business model is dependent on keeping those liberal readers… The paper is a mess because it pretends to be an organization that covers everybody fairly, everybody equally, regardless of ideology.” Mark Halperin unpacks @GlennKesslerWP’s Substack admission that The Washington Post is hesitant to run content that resonates with the “untapped” conservative market for fear of alienating its liberal base. Subscribe and download NOW:
2:06

“The Post readership is liberal, and the post business model is dependent on keeping those liberal readers… The paper is a mess because it pretends to be an organization that covers everybody fairly, everybody equally, regardless of ideology.” Mark Halperin unpacks @GlennKesslerWP’s Substack admission that The Washington Post is hesitant to run content that resonates with the “untapped” conservative market for fear of alienating its liberal base. Subscribe and download NOW:

Next Up with Mark Halperin

15,134 views • 1 year ago

.Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Washington Post contributing columnist who has been imprisoned in Russia since April 2022, was awarded the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for commentary. Evgenia Kara-Murza spoke on his behalf in the The Washington Post newsroom.
2:12

.Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Washington Post contributing columnist who has been imprisoned in Russia since April 2022, was awarded the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for commentary. Evgenia Kara-Murza spoke on his behalf in the The Washington Post newsroom.

Washington Post Opinions

65,397 views • 2 years ago