Ruth Marcus, a top columnist at The Washington Post, has resigned after working there for over forty years. Marcus decided to leave because the paper’s owner, Jeff Bezos, blocked her from publishing a column criticizing changes he made to the paper’s opinion section.
Recently, Bezos announced new rules for the opinion pages, stating that they will only publish opinions supporting “personal liberties and free markets.” Marcus felt this decision limited the freedom of columnists to share their honest opinions. She wrote in her resignation letter, “Jeff’s announcement that the opinion section will henceforth not publish views that deviate from the pillars of individual liberties and free markets threatens to break the trust of readers that columnists are writing what they believe, not what the owner has deemed acceptable.”
Marcus’s column, which criticized these changes, was not allowed to be published. She expressed disappointment, stating this was the first time in nearly twenty years that one of her columns had been rejected. In her resignation letter, she also wrote, “it breaks my heart to conclude that I must leave.” Marcus had served in many roles at the Post, including reporter, editor, and associate editor.
This controversy is part of broader issues at The Washington Post since last October, when Bezos stopped the paper from endorsing Democratic candidate Kamala Harris for president, believing endorsements created “a perception of bias.” After that decision, around 75,000 digital subscribers canceled their subscriptions within two days. Many other staff members, including opinions editor David Shipley, also resigned after disagreeing with Bezos’s new rules.
Jeff Bezos recently announced that The Washington Post opinion section would only publish views supporting “personal liberties and free markets,” moving the newspaper closer to right-wing political views. Bezos, known as the second richest man globally, has also recently shown support for President Trump, donating to his inauguration and attending events with him.
This article is based on the following articles:
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/mar/10/washington-post-ruth-marcus-resigns
https://www.npr.org/2025/03/10/nx-s1-5323136/washington-post-editor-ruth-marcus-resigns
Background Information
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is one of the most famous newspapers in the United States, based in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1877 and is known for covering important stories in politics and government. Many people respect the Post because it has won numerous awards, including Pulitzer Prizes, which are very prestigious awards given to newspapers for excellence in journalism.
Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos is one of the richest and most powerful businesspeople in the world. He is best known as the founder of Amazon, the online company that started by selling books and grew into one of the largest companies globally. Bezos bought The Washington Post in 2013. Usually, newspaper owners don’t interfere with what reporters and editors choose to write about. However, Bezos recently made changes to the opinion section of the Post, deciding that it should mainly support views about personal freedoms and free markets—ideas closely connected to business and economic policies.
Ruth Marcus
Ruth Marcus is a respected journalist who has worked at The Washington Post for around 40 years. As a political columnist, she wrote opinion articles, meaning she shared her own thoughts and interpretations of important news and events. Opinion articles help readers think deeply about issues by providing different perspectives. Marcus was also an associate editor at the newspaper, meaning she had a role in guiding and shaping its overall opinion coverage.
Opinion Sections in Newspapers
Newspapers have opinion sections, often separate from regular news, where writers share their personal viewpoints and analyses. These columns can influence readers’ opinions or help them see issues from different angles. Opinion writers typically have the freedom to express their views openly, even if they disagree with the owners of their newspapers. Protecting this freedom is important because it maintains the trust of readers who expect honest and independent viewpoints.
Jeff Bezos’ Recent Changes and Their Effects
Jeff Bezos recently announced significant changes to The Washington Post’s opinion section. He decided it would only publish opinions that support personal liberties and free-market economics. These decisions have made some readers and journalists unhappy. Critics argue that these changes make the newspaper seem biased toward certain political or economic beliefs. Because of these decisions, many readers have canceled their subscriptions. In journalism, it is considered important for newspapers to present different points of view so readers can make informed decisions on their own.
Controversy and Resignations at The Washington Post
This isn’t the first controversy related to Bezos’s involvement with the newspaper. Previously, he stopped the newspaper from endorsing Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election, arguing that endorsing candidates might make readers feel the newspaper is biased. This decision led many editors and writers to resign because they felt that their freedom to express honest opinions was compromised.
Recent Events and Impact
Marcus’ resignation is the latest in a series of controversies at the Washington Post caused by Bezos’ increased involvement. This event has sparked discussions about journalistic freedom and independence. People are now paying closer attention to how newspapers make decisions about what to publish and whether wealthy owners should influence these decisions.
Debate/Essay Questions
- Should the owner of a newspaper be allowed to influence its content? Why or why not?
Please subscribe to Insight Fortnight, our biweekly newsletter!