A long-time columnist at The Washington Post, who dedicated four decades to the publication, has resigned following a decision by the management not to publish her commentary. The piece was critical of a new editorial directive issued by the newspaper’s owner, Jeff Bezos. The directive reportedly focused the opinion section on subjects concerning personal liberties and the free market.
Ruth Marcus, who had been with the paper since 1984, expressed in her resignation letter that it was a difficult decision to leave. “It breaks my heart to conclude that I must leave,” she wrote. Her departure is part of a broader response to the changes implemented by Bezos, which had previously led to the resignation of the newspaper’s opinions editor, David Shipley.
The Washington Post has reportedly experienced significant financial and editorial challenges over the past year. Marcus was seen as a cornerstone of the organization, having worked in both the news and opinion sectors. Former media reporter Paul Farhi described her as embodying the newspaper’s history and the achievements of its journalists.
According to Marcus, her column—intended as a “respectfully dissenting” view against Bezos’ policy—was not published due to a decision made by the Post’s publisher, Will Lewis. This marked the first instance in nearly two decades where one of her columns was not run. She highlighted a concerning trend where the freedom traditionally granted to columnists to choose their topics and express views without restraint has been compromised.
The Post’s spokesperson acknowledged Marcus’ remarkable contributions over the years and extended wishes of success in her future endeavors. Farhi pointed out that, while Bezos and Lewis legally possess the authority to make editorial decisions, it is not customarily the practice. He compared this scenario to the Justice Department’s general independence from the White House, despite formal control.
In the wake of these developments, there is a risk that such editorial decisions might lead readers to question the authenticity of the writers’ expressed viewpoints, potentially affecting the trust in the paper’s news department as well.
Shortly after the new editorial direction was disclosed, a related report by media columnist Erik Wemple was shelved. In January, another staff member, editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes, resigned. Her resignation followed the rejection of her cartoon, which depicted Bezos and other billionaires showing reverence to a statue of former President Donald Trump. The decision to not publish was initially explained as a repetition of existing opinion pieces.
Under current executive editor Matt Murray, the publication has recently announced that it would avoid having its journalists write about issues pertaining directly to the newspaper. Media columnist Erik Wemple had previously criticized this stance, expressing strong disagreement.
On the opinion page recently, The Post ran pieces addressing Mexico’s lawsuit against firearm manufacturers, former President Donald Trump’s relations with Russia, and issues of political violence and state-level Democratic resistance. Contributors included Max Boot, Perry Bacon Jr., Phillip Bump, and Jim Geraghty.
Beyond editorial policy changes, The Washington Post has faced significant turnover among its prominent journalists. Financial struggles have been ongoing, worsened following the resignation of Sally Buzbee, the previous executive editor. Since then, journalists like Ashley Parker, Josh Dawsey, Philip Rucker, and others have moved on to other opportunities.
The paper’s decision late last year not to endorse a presidential candidate—a reversal after staff prepared to back Democrat Kamala Harris—resulted in a notable outflow of subscribers. The publication is actively working to regain its subscriber base. Marty Baron, the executive editor when Bezos acquired the paper, remarked in a recent article that Bezos had maintained admirable ownership for over a decade, but faltered in crucial moments.
Marcus’ resignation coincided with a newsroom restructuring plan introduced by Matt Murray, aimed at distinguishing the operations for the digital and print branches of The Post.