NEW YORK (AP) — After a brutal 12 months of headlines about The Washington Submit, govt editor Matt Murray sounded nearly relieved to be speaking about journalism.
In an interview, he was touting “100 scoops in 100 days” concerning the Submit’s protection of the Trump administration’s first weeks. What feels like a publicist’s confection has reality behind it, with reporters placing their heads down and dealing, notably on tales involving the federal workforce and spending cuts.
Most tales concerning the Submit previously few months have been destructive, together with writer Will Lewis’ botched reorganization that led to former govt editor Sally Buzbee’s resignation final June, proprietor Jeff Bezos asserting himself over the opinion part and defections amongst journalists anxious concerning the outlet’s path.
“Great stories and great scoops are always good to remind people — both externally and internally — that it’s all about the journalism at the end of the day,” Murray stated.
The grunt work of reporting on the federal workforce
Dan Diamond, Hannah Natanson, Carolyn Y. Johnson and Lena H. Solar are among the many reporters who’ve dug into specifics about Division of Authorities Effectivity-inspired cuts and what they’ve meant for medical analysis and providers for Social Safety recipients. Natanson, Rachel Siegel and Laura Meckler have explored using authorities knowledge to go after undocumented immigrants.
Adam Taylor and John Hudson have dug into proposed cuts on the State Division. Maria Sacchetti and Artur Galocha confirmed how half of the folks the White Home reported as immigration enforcement arrests have been already behind bars. Jacob Bogage wrote a couple of Trump appointee asking the IRS to evaluate an audit of conservative persona Mike Lindell.
It is grunt work, growing sources and tales that construct upon different tales, many involving federal employees — the trade that the town is constructed upon.
“The Post has an historic obligation — it’s right in our name, Washington — to write aggressively, truthfully, thoughtfully about the government and what’s happening there,” Murray stated. “Obviously the Trump administration, whatever one thinks of them, has the most aggressive change program that we’ve seen in many administrations.”
The work breaking tales has been noticeable, stated Margaret Sullivan, a former media columnist on the Submit who nonetheless writes, teaches at Columbia College and runs the Craig Newmark Heart for Journalism Ethics and Safety there.
“I’ve been happy to see that,” she stated. “The place has been through such a difficult time and it’s not due to the journalists there. It’s because of the ownership and management.”
The Submit hasn’t but earned its personal Reality Social publish about its reporting since President Donald Trump’s return — the last word signal it has gotten beneath Trump’s pores and skin — however the White Home labeled considered one of its tales about well being funding “fake news.” Tulsi Gabbard, nationwide intelligence director, cited a Submit story about Israel and Iran amongst her causes to hunt out inside leakers.
The work has additionally calmed fears about whether or not proprietor Bezos’ newfound friendliness with Trump would influence information protection. Final fall, Bezos ordered a deliberate endorsement of Trump opponent Kamala Harris spiked, triggering an exodus of offended subscribers. He was a prominently seen visitor at Trump’s second inauguration and shortly after stated the Submit’s opinion pages ought to focus totally on private liberties and the free market.
That change in path led to the resignations of editorial web page editor David Shipley and two long-time Submit columnists, Ruth Marcus and Eugene Robinson.
Bezos’ actions with the opinion part have damage the Submit’s repute when the nation actually wants it, and when its information protection has been glorious, stated Robert McCartney, a retired Submit columnist. “Their DOGE coverage has been really good, as good as anybody’s,” he stated. “They have broken a lot of news. They have done a lot of important accountability reporting.”
Journalists are benefiting from new alternatives
Between the turmoil and a sea of purple ink leading to layoffs, the Submit suffered a big expertise defection on the finish of final 12 months. Journalists like Matea Gold, the revered managing editor, and reporters Josh Dawsey, Ashley Parker, Philip Rucker and Michael Scherer took new jobs. That uncovered some skinny pores and skin; Murray, then solely interim editor, briefly banned goodbye emails believing they have been dangerous for morale, earlier than the choice was reversed, the Guardian reported. The paper has banned its media writers from reporting tales concerning the newspaper.
“The reporters are doing good work, by and large,” stated Richard Prince, a retired reporter and editor who spent 20 years on the Submit in two stints. “It’s a shame there is all this turmoil that is coming from the top. It seems like they lost more talent than they gained.”
At a time there are extra journalists than jobs, the Submit continues to be a desired vacation spot. “Many other people are stepping up and have had new opportunities and are showing their chops,” stated Murray, who had the “interim” faraway from his title with no fanfare earlier this 12 months.
The Submit continues to be in transition; Murray appointed some key deputies final week. It’s nonetheless checking out protection areas that want extra consideration and people who do not. He promised extra sources to comply with know-how, synthetic intelligence and the markets.
The Submit reportedly misplaced some 325,000 subscribers after the Harris non-endorsement and editorial coverage change; the newspaper will not say whether or not it has recovered that quantity since via new or returned subscribers. The newspaper is extra aggressively searching for new readers and says 100,000 extra new subscribers signed up this 12 months than did over the identical interval in 2024.
It is spring; contemplate all of them shoots popping up from the bottom after a harmful winter.
“I would not quit the Post,” Sullivan stated. “If I were a regular reader, I would still find it very interesting and necessary.”
___
David Bauder writes concerning the intersection of media and leisure for the AP. Observe him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social
