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The Washington Post online is one of my favorite sources for the news of the day as well as for opinion about the news of the day. Moreover, the books section is a site that I turn to for reviews and recommendations. Thus it was with some consternation and sadness that I read (in The New York Times) that The Post's book section supplement is being scuppered. But it is not just the supplement that is being decimated. This week The Post has laid off one-third of its employees.

As many will remember, The Washington Post was bought by Jeff Bezos in 2013. The paper was in trouble and Bezos "bought it to save it." But that was a gentler time. The world and (perhaps) Jeff Bezos have changed since then. Bezos had already reduced the newsroom in recent years and now he has put an end to the book section that so many of his readers have relied on.

As Marty Baron, The Post's former chief editor from the Watergate era was quoted as saying, "It is difficult to contemplate, and hard to forgive, a decision to sever The Post’s relationship with books." But here we are. We are at the mercy of an owner who evidently feels no obligation to honor the past or meet the needs of the readers by continuing to publish a book section. I guess the thinking is "Who reads books in this age of videos?"


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  1. jabblogFebruary 27, 2026 at 5:23 AM

    Do you sometimes have the feeling that you are being gently nudged to another perspective and that one day you will no longer miss what you used to enjoy? . . . or is that just me?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersFebruary 27, 2026 at 11:04 AM

      No, it is not just you and sometimes that nudge isn't so gentle!

      Delete
  2. David M. Gascoigne,February 27, 2026 at 6:45 AM

    It is one thing for a newspaper publisher to change the editorial stance, or eliminate a section, even though we may disagree with and be dismayed by, such decisions. But when it is done to stifle the editorial voice, turn to the virtual dissemination of propaganda, or at the very least not irritate the régime that pours hundreds of millions of dollars into the oligarch’s pocket, it is tragic and disgusting. Despite this, people will go merrily on supporting Amazon, helping the ship of larceny to proceed at full speed, sails unfurled and riding favourable winds. We are once again the architects of our own demise.

    ReplyDelete
  3. thecuecardMarch 3, 2026 at 5:14 PM

    Yes I wrote about this too on my Feb. 8 post. It's deplorable! I worked at the Post 15 years ... and this really stinks. They cut the Book section and also the Sports section (which was also popular to the whole city). They cut several foreign bureaus ... while reporters were in Ukraine reporting on the war. Bezos has hit a new low .... The Book section was really important and now it's gone. How dreadful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersMarch 4, 2026 at 12:45 PM

      Bezos is an ugly boil on journalism's neck. He really should be excised.

      Delete

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