Jeff Bezos defends staff cuts at The Washington Post

As reported by Tuổi Trẻ, billionaire Jeff Bezos has firmly defended his decision to significantly reduce staffing at The Washington Post, a publication he owns. His stance, articulated in an interview with CNBC, centers on the principle that the Post must operate as a viable business, independent of his personal financial backing. "The Washington Post must be a business that can stand on its own two feet," Bezos asserted.

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The Washington Post must be a business that can stand on its own two feet.

This move comes after a substantial restructuring that impacted various departments, leading to approximately 30% of the staff being cut. Bezos's rationale is rooted in the belief that financial profitability is the ultimate measure of a media organization's relevance and value. He posited that if the public is not willing to pay for the Post's content, then the product itself is lacking. He pointed to The New York Times as an example of a media outlet that has successfully maintained financial strength by producing valuable content that audiences are willing to support.

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If people are not willing to pay for the product of The Washington Post, then it is not a good enough product.

Despite the workforce reductions, Bezos stressed that investigative journalism remains the core of The Washington Post's mission. He noted that even with a smaller newsroom, the Post still possesses a larger staff than during its renowned investigative periods, such as the Watergate scandal or the Pentagon Papers. He expressed confidence that the publication will continue to play a crucial role, guided by a "new financial discipline."

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Despite the scale of the newsroom shrinking, The Washington Post still has a larger staff than during the period when it carried out famous investigations like the Watergate scandal or the Pentagon Papers.

Bezos also referenced The Washington Post's 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, awarded for its reporting on the Trump administration's federal reform efforts. While the paper thrived during Trump's first term, it has faced challenges in recent years due to declining subscriptions and advertising revenue, necessitating these difficult decisions. The emphasis on financial self-sufficiency, coupled with a continued commitment to impactful journalism, signals a new era for the storied newspaper under Bezos's ownership.

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The newspaper will continue to play an important role thanks to 'new financial discipline.'