the washington post slashes staff by a third in major overhaul
Washington, woensdag, 4 februari 2026.
The Washington Post has cut one-third of its staff, eliminating its sports section, foreign bureaus, and books coverage. The drastic move shocks the media world and marks a turning point for one of america’s most respected newspapers. Executive editor matt murray calls it a necessary step amid shifting reader habits and digital pressures. Former top editor martin baron condemns the move as ‘self-inflicted brand destruction.’ the layoffs signal deeper struggles under jeff bezos’ ownership, raising urgent questions about the future of quality journalism. loyal readers and industry leaders alike fear the iconic paper is losing its soul. the full impact on its editorial voice remains to be seen.
united states
The washington post has cut one-third of its staff, eliminating its sports section, several foreign bureaus, and its books coverage [1]. The decision affects approximately 33% of the total workforce, though exact employee numbers remain undisclosed due to the private nature of the company [1][2]. Employees received notification via email and were instructed to stay home ahead of a virtual meeting detailing the changes [2]. The scale of the reduction shocked both staff and industry observers [2].
drastic cuts across key departments
The sports department has been entirely eliminated, marking the end of decades-long coverage of athletics [1][2]. Foreign bureaus in cairo, new delhi, and kyiv have closed, removing key international presences [1][3]. Books coverage will no longer continue as a dedicated feature [1]. High-profile journalists such as yeganeh torbati, pranshu verma, claire parker, and lizzie johnson were among those laid off [3]. The metro section will now operate in a ‘nimble and focused’ manner [3].
leadership defends strategic pivot
Executive editor matt murray described the cuts as necessary to secure the newspaper’s future amid rapid technological change and shifting user habits [1][3]. He stated the post must focus on areas of strength, including politics, national security, science, health, technology, and business [3]. ‘we can’t be everything to everyone,’ murray said in a message to staff [1]. The paper aims to prioritize authoritative, impactful journalism [3].
sharp criticism from press veterans
Former executive editor martin baron called the decision ‘a case study in near-instant, self-inflicted brand destruction’ [1]. He criticized owner jeff bezos for undermining the paper’s credibility through prior shifts, including the withdrawal of support for kamala harris during the 2024 election [1]. Columbia university journalism professor margaret sullivan labeled the move ‘devastating’ for american and global journalism [1]. Many see the cuts as symptomatic of deeper challenges facing traditional print media [GPT].
uncertain future amid financial strain
The washington post incurred a $100 million loss in 2023 and aimed to reach profitability by 2026 [3]. With roughly two million subscribers, it operates without public financial disclosures [1][3]. Unlike competitors like the new york times—which doubled its staff over the past decade—the post has undergone contraction [1]. While the times expanded into sports via acquisitions like the athletic, the post withdrew completely from the domain [1]. Long-term sustainability remains uncertain [alert! ‘post did not disclose detailed financial projections’].