Report: Bezos Sits in WaPo Meeting as Editors Shape Coverage About Amazon

The billionaire Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is denied editorial involvement. The founder of Blue Origin, the space venture and owner of The Washington Post participates in an Air Force Association event September 19, 2018, in National Harbor, Maryland. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images).

Billionaire Washington Post Jeff Bezos (the owner of Amazon) sat in the newsroom meeting on Thursday while employees discussed articles about him and his business interests.

The editors discussed stories about AmazonSmile’s discontinuation and the impending sale Washington Commanders. Bezos expressed interest in buying them during the meetings. New York Times reported.

Post Bezos purchased the newspaper in 2013 and editors insist that he does not interfere with coverage. Marty Baron, a former editor, stated in 2019 that “he hasn’t interfered with a single story” And “hasn’t criticized a story.”

Bezos is present at the morning news meetings as the paper becomes unprofitable for first time in many years. The Post lost Half a million subscribers have been signed up since President Joe Biden was inaugurated, and Fred Ryan, the publisher, announced last month that the paper would be laying off its staff.

Bezos was confronted by a Post employee regarding the layoffs. Times reported:

During the meeting on Thursday, Mr. Bezos’ retinue stood outside the room, earpieces clearly visible. As he left, a Post employee wearing a red shirt emblazoned with the insignia of The Post’s guild stopped him and asked why the company was laying people off without offering buyouts first, according to the three people with knowledge of the meeting. Mr. Bezos responded that he was at The Post to listen, not answer questions, and underscored his commitment to The Post’s journalism.