Maybe I won't have to cancel my subscription to the Washington Post when I stop blogging, after all

Maybe

This note from Jeff Bezos to the staff of the Washington Post had me thinking it was April 1. But apparently it’s no joke. Here is what Bezos said:

I shared this note with the Washington Post team this morning: I’m writing to let you know about a change coming to our opinion pages.

We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets. We’ll cover other topics too of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others.

There was a time when a newspaper, especially one that was a local monopoly, might have seen it as a service to bring to the reader’s doorstep every morning a broad-based opinion section that sought to cover all views. Today, the internet does that job.

I am of America and for America, and proud to be so. Our country did not get here by being typical. And a big part of America’s success has been freedom in the economic realm and everywhere else. Freedom is ethical — it minimizes coercion — and practical — it drives creativity, invention, and prosperity.

I offered David Shipley, whom I greatly admire, the opportunity to lead this new chapter. I suggested to him that if the answer wasn’t “hell yes,” then it had to be “no.” After careful consideration, David decided to step away. This is a significant shift, it won’t be easy, and it will require 100% commitment — I respect his decision. We’ll be searching for a new Opinion Editor to own this new direction.

Jeff

I hate to quibble with such a strong affirmation by the Post’s owner of American values, but I do think Bezos has it slightly backwards. In my view, the opinion pages should reflect a diversity of viewpoints, notwithstanding the rise of the internet.

The big change I’d like to see at the Post is more objectivity in its news coverage. Bezos says nothing about that; nor have I seen an increase in objectivity in the aftermath of the Post’s decision not to endorse a candidate in the 2024 election.

Nonetheless, I welcome an op-ed section that tilts clearly in favor of traditional American values of personal liberty and economic freedom. And I hope Bezos succeeds in bringing in a new opinion editor who implements that vision, but gives some voice to dissenters.

I’ve been a Post reader for 70 years. I learned to read in no small measure by sounding out the words in the Post’s sports page. (Thank you, Bob Addie for writing simply.)

However, it has long been my intention to cancel my subscription to the Post the day I stop writing. Now, I’ll consider not following through. But only if Bezos also cleans up the news sections.