Ruth Marcus had written an article in which he questioned Jeff Bezos editorial decision; She had been in the newspaper since 1984
Political Articista and Associated Publisher of, announced on Monday (10.mar.2025) to have left his position after 4 decades of work in the newspaper.
The decision was made after the executive president of the Washington PostWill Lewis rejected the publication of his column that criticized those implemented by the journal owner ,.
Bezos determined in February that the newspaper would publish only columns aligned with what it called pillars of “free market ” and from “individual freedoms ”. The new guideline resulted in the cancellation of more than 75,000 digital signatures within 48 hours to the announcement and that of the then editor David Shibipley.
“It is with great sadness that I deliver my resignation as a columnist and associated publisher of ‘Washington Post’”Ruth Marcus wrote in a letter released on (former Twitter). She had worked in the newspaper since 1984, having worked in the news section and in the opinion.
The journalist said she considered an honor to write comments based on her “better independent judgment ”something that now, according to her, is committed.
“Unfortunately, in the newspaper’s opinion, it seems that this is no longer the case”declared Ruth Marcus. “Jeff’s announcement that the opinion section will not, from now on, publish visions that deviate from the pillars of individual freedoms and the free market threatens to break readers’ confidence that columnists are writing what they believe, not what the owner considered acceptable, ”, he wrote.
The decision, she said, “It points out that the traditional freedom of the columnists to choose the subject they wish to address and say what they are thinking was dangerously eroded ”.
According to the news agency, a spokesman for Washington Post thanked the “significant contributions ” Ruth Marcus over 40 years and said she respects her decision to leave.
Peter Baker, journalist who covers the White House in The New York Timeshe lamented that Ruth Marcus is leaving the publication. He worked for 20 years in Washington Post.
“The tragic self -destruction of a large newspaper continues. I had the privilege of working with Ruth Marcus and she is the best of the best. Agree you or not with her, she is the model of excellence and journalistic integrity ”wrote in publication in.
The columnist’s departure is part of a broader crisis in the newspaper. THE Washington Post It has faced financial and editorial difficulties in the last year. In January, award -winning cartoonist Ann Telnaes after having a cartoon of his barred by editorial decision. In addition, the decision of the newspaper Bezos, a traditional practice in the American press, caused a loss of at least.
which was an executive editor of the Washignton Post When Bezos bought the newspaper in 2013, he published on March 3 in the magazine that the owner of the publication “He administered his property admirably for over a decade. But his courage failed when he needed her most ”.
Ruth Marcus’s resignation overshadowed one of the newsroom introduced by the current executive editor Matt Murray, which includes the separation of workflows for digital and printed products from Washington Post.
Read Ruth Marcus’s resignation letter in full:
“Caros Jeff e will,
“It is with great sadness that I deliver my resignation as a columnist and associated publisher of the Washington Post. I valued my 4 decades in Post –How reporter, adjunct national publisher, editorial writer, editorial publisher of the editorial and columnist. As a reporter, I had the honor of providing readers the truth in the best way possible. As an opinion columnist, I also had the honor of offering comments that readers can be sure were made up of the best independent judgment on the subject I had available.
“Unfortunately, in the newspaper’s opinion, it seems that this is no longer the case. Jeff’s announcement that the opinion section will not, from now on, publish visions that deviate from the pillars of individual freedoms and the free market threaten to break confidence from readers that columnists are writing what they believe, not what the owner considers as acceptable. Will’s decision not to publish the column I respectfully wrote disagreeing with Jeff’s decree – I have never lived in almost two decades as a column writer – highlights that the traditional freedom of columnists to choose the subject they want to address and say what they are thinking was dangerously corroded.
“I love the post. Conclude that I should leave the newspaper breaks my heart. I have an affection and deep admiration for my colleagues and I will miss them every day. I wish both the best by leading this historical and fundamental institution in these difficult times.
“Yours sincerely,
“Ruth Marcus”
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