Washington Post opinion head departs as Jeff Bezos shifts focus for paper

Owner and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has informed staff in a memo that David Shipley, editor of the Washington Post’s editorial page, is leaving the paper as its opinion section shifts its focus to supporting and defending the issues of personal liberties and free markets.

Bezos stated in the staff memo on Wednesday that the section will cover other subjects as well, but it won’t publish viewpoints that would oppose those two pillars. Shipley declined Bezos ‘ offer to stay on, Bezos wrote.

The move – which reflects the Post’s narrowing of focus from a general-interest opinion section that reflected a wide swath of views – follows the paper’s decision in October to stop&nbsp, its decades-long practice of endorsing&nbsp, presidential candidates.

Bezos stated in his memo to the staff on Wednesday that these viewpoints are underserved in the market and that both he and he framed the change in this context.

“I am of America and for America, and proud to be so”, Bezos wrote. “Our country did not arrive by being typical,” the statement read. And freedom everywhere has been a significant part of America’s success, both domestically and internationally.

The changes were defended by CEO and publisher William Lewis, who&nbsp, joined&nbsp, the newspaper in early 2024 after working for outlets controlled by Rupert Murdoch.

“This is not about supporting any political party,” he said. In a memo to staff that was seen by Reuters, Lewis wrote in a statement that was “absolutely clear about what we stand for as a newspaper.”

Bezos is one of the tech executives who has recently made phone calls to Donald Trump. He was prominently seated during Trump’s inauguration, underscoring his shifting ties with the president.

The growing closeness has, however, irked some Post subscribers.

The newspaper&nbsp, lost&nbsp, more than 200, 000 digital subscriptions after its move not to endorse a presidential candidate. According to a report in the newspaper, the editorial board of The Post also resigned in protest of that decision.

In a post on X, the paper’s White House economics reporter Jeff Stein wrote, “Massive encroachment by Jeff Bezos into The Washington Post’s opinion section today makes clear dissenting views will not be published or tolerated there.”