Washington Post

From SourceWatch
Jump to navigation Jump to search

The Washington Post is a daily newspaper published in Washington D.C. It has been described as "the dominant newspaper in the U.S. capital".[1]

News and Controversies

Accused of Bias against Bernie Sanders

Beginning in August 2019, Vermont senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders accused the Washington Post of bias against him because of his assertions that Amazon, the company owned by Post owner Bezos, often pays zero in federal taxes.[2][3][4]

In response, multiple news outlets noted that Sanders's attack on the mainstream media resembled the attacks leveled by President Donald Trump.[3][4] CBS played clips of Trump and Sanders back to back to compare their statements. Trump claimed, "The Washington Post is fake news, just like The New York Times is fake news. It's put there for the benefit, the Washington Post, of Amazon, that's my opinion."[3] Sanders claimed, "We have pointed out over and over again that Amazon made 10 billion dollars in profits last year. You know how much they paid in taxes? You got it, zero! Any wonder why The Washington Post is not one of my great supporters, I wonder why? New York Times, not much better."[3]

Multiple sources have provided evidence to back up Sanders's accusation of Washington Post bias against him.[2][5] The Post has also been accused of bias against Medicare for All, one of Sanders's most emphasized policies.[6]

Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting has accused the Post of bias against Sanders,[7] including in a piece which noted that the newspaper "ran 16 negative stories on Bernie Sanders in 16 hours" during his 2016 presidential run.[8]

Frederick J. Ryan Named as Publisher Under Bezos

As part of the change in leadership under Jeff Bezos, Frederick J. Ryan replaced former publisher Katharine Weymouth in 2014. Ryan "spent years rising in Ronald Reagan's administration, eventually becoming a top presidential aide and a key leader in the construction of Reagan's presidential library."[9] Ryan also "joined Allbritton Communications in 1995, becoming president an chief operating officer" and "became the founding chief executive of Politico" in 2007. According to Washington Post, Ryan "is credited with helping [Politico] win a lucrative advertising deal with Goldman Sachs and host presidential debates before the 2008 and 2012 Republican primaries at the Reagan Presidential Library..."[9]

Bought by Jeff Bezos

The Washington Post went through various owners after its founding in 1877, eventually landing in the hands of Philip L. Graham in 1946.[1] The newspaper remained in the Graham family until 2013, when it sold the publication for $250 million to Amazon CEO and founder Jeffrey Bezos,[10] who is now the world's richest person.[11]

Edward Snowden and NSA Domestic Surveillance

The Washington Post reported extensively on the 2013 National Security Agency domestic spying scandal, aided by documents leaked by whistleblower Edward Snowden. A timeline created by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) laid out the various stories published by the newspaper throughout 2013 and 2014.[12] The timeline included a December 2013 article that exposed the NSA cellphone data collection program, reporting how the agency "is gathering nearly 5 billion records a day on the whereabouts of cellphones around the world, according to top-secret documents and interviews with U.S. intelligence officials, enabling the agency to track the movements of individuals – and map their relationships – in ways that would have been previously unimaginable."[13]

The EFF website also chronicled all NSA primary sources published by various media outlets, including The Washington Post.[14]

Watergate Scandal

Beginning in June 1972, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, two Washington Post reporters in their twenties, investigated the arrests that lead to the Watergate scandal and then-President Richard M. Nixon's eventual resignation.[15] The reporters worked together with a confidential source from the Federal Bureau of Investigation known as "Deep Throat."[15] As explained by the newspaper, "With access to FBI reports on the burglary investigation, [this source] could confirm or deny what other sources were telling The Post reporters. [The source] also could tell them what leads to pursue."[15] In 2005, "Deep Throat" was revealed to be Mark Felt, who had been a high-ranking FBI official during the 1970s.[15]

Pentagon Papers and New York Times Co. v. United States Supreme Court Case

In 1971, whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg distributed the Pentagon Papers, a top-secret history of U.S. military action in Southeast Asia, to multiple news outlets, including The New York Times (NYT) and The Washington Post. After NYT had published an article drawing on Ellsberg's leaked classified documents, "a federal district court judge ordered the newspaper to stop... based on the federal government's pursuit of an injunction based on irreparable harm to national security."[16]

While the U.S. government successfully halted NYT's publication of stories related to the Pentagon Papers, it "had not been able to secure an injunction against the Washington Post, a similar type of newspaper, for publishing similar content."[16]

Due to the discrepancy between these rulings, the case was sent to the U.S. Supreme Court in New York Times Co. v. United States. Newspapers won the right to freely publish stories surrounding the Pentagon Papers after the Supreme Court found, in a 6-3 ruling, that "The First Amendment overrides the federal government’s interest in keeping certain documents... classified."[16]

Estimated Reach

As of March 2020, the Washington Post website received an estimated 56 million unique visitors per month.[17] As of this same time, the platform's Twitter account had over 14.9 million followers[18] and its Facebook page had over 6.4 million followers.[19]

A 2015 report found that the newspaper's average daily print circulation during 2014 was 395,234.[20] The same report, however, found that "The Post website is regularly exceeding 50 million unique monthly visitors in the U.S. and crossed the 20 million point with international readers earlier this year."[20]

Personnel

Leadership of The Washington Post Newsroom

As of March 2020:[21]

  • Martin Baron, Executive Editor
  • martin.baron@washpost.com
  • 202-334-9198


  • Cameron Barr, Managing Editor (News and features coverage)
  • cameron.barr@washpost.com
  • 202-334-7959
  • Emilio Garcia-Ruiz, Managing Editor (Digital, photography, video, copy desk, social media)
  • emilio.garcia-ruiz@washpost.com
  • 202-334-5134


  • Tracy Grant, Managing Editor (Hiring and development, ethics and standards)
  • tracy.grant@washpost.com
  • 202-334-7454


  • Scott Vance, Deputy Managing Editor (Daily report)
  • scott.vance@washpost.com
  • 202-334-5515


  • Barbara Vobejda, Deputy Managing Editor (Daily report)
  • barbara.vobejda@washpost.com
  • 202-334-7430


  • Timothy Curran, Enterprise Editor (Weekend)
  • timothy.curran@washpost.com
  • 202-334-7393


  • Steven Ginsberg, National Editor
  • steven.ginsberg@washpost.com
  • 202-334-6410


  • Lori Montgomery, Deputy National Editor
  • lori.montgomery@washpost.com
  • 202-334-6822


  • Douglas Jehl, Foreign Editor
  • douglas.jehl@washpost.com
  • 202-334-5664


  • Eva Rodriguez, Deputy Foreign Editor
  • eva.rodriguez@washpost.com
  • 202-334-9670


  • Mike Semel, Local Editor (regional coverage, also education, religion, transportation)
  • mike.semel@washpost.com
  • 202.334.4402


  • Monica Norton, Deputy Local Editor
  • monica.norton@washpost.com
  • 202-334-7820


  • Liz Seymour, Executive Features Editor (entertainment, arts, magazine, food, travel, lifestyle, fiction books, features)
  • liz.seymour@washpost.com
  • 202-334-5039


  • David Malitz, Deputy Features Editor
  • david.malitz@washpost.com
  • 202-334-9423


  • Mitch Rubin, Deputy Features Editor
  • mitch.rubin@washpost.com
  • 202-334-6074


  • David Cho, Business Editor
  • david.cho@washpost.com
  • 202-334-5613


  • Zachary Goldfarb, Deputy Business Editor
  • zachary.goldfarb@washpost.com
  • 202-334-6242


  • Jeff Leen, Investigations Editor
  • jeff.leen@washpost.com
  • 202-334-6901


  • David Fallis, Deputy Investigations Editor
  • david.fallis@washpost.com
  • 202-334-6866


  • Eric Rich, Deputy Investigations Editor
  • eric.rich@washpost.com
  • 202-334-4961


  • Matthew Vita, Sports Editor
  • matthew.vita@washpost.com
  • 202-334-6951


  • Matthew Rennie, Deputy Sports Editor
  • matthew.rennie@washpost.com
  • 202-334-7285


  • Adam Kushner, Outlook Editor (Outlook section, PostEverything online venue, nonfiction books)
  • adam.kushner@washpost.com
  • 202-334-7548


  • Mike Madden, Deputy Outlook Editor
  • michael.madden@washpost.com
  • 202-334-6344


  • Micah Gelman, Director of Editorial Video
  • micah.gelman@washpost.com
  • 202-334-9367


  • Phoebe Connelly, Deputy Video Editor
  • phoebe.connelly@washpost.com
  • 202-334-6046


  • David Bruns, Executive Producer
  • david.bruns@washpost.com
  • 202-334-7342


  • Michelle Jaconi, Executive Producer, Creative
  • michelle.jaconi@washpost.com
  • 202-334-6624


  • Ryan Kellett, Senior Director, Audience
  • ryan.kellett@washpost.com
  • 202-334-9453


  • Mark W. Smith, Director, Social and Operations
  • mark.smith@washpost.com
  • 202-334-9569


  • Tessa Muggeridge, Subscriptions and Engagement Editor (including newsletters and alerts)
  • tessa.muggeridge@washpost.com
  • 202-334-4245


  • J. Freedom du Lac, Live News Editor
  • J.duLac@washpost.com
  • 202-334-5268


  • MaryAnne Golon, Director of Photography
  • maryanne.golon@washpost.com
  • 202-334-9171


  • Robert Miller, Deputy Director of Photography
  • robert.miller@washpost.com
  • 202-334-4197


  • Dudley Brooks, Deputy Director of Photography
  • dudley.brooks@washpost.com
  • 202-334-4822


  • Jesse Lewis, Multiplatform Editing Chief
  • jesse.lewis@washpost.com
  • 202-334-9224


  • Courtney Rukan, Deputy Multiplatform Editor
  • courtney.rukan@washpost.com
  • 202-334-6829


  • Gregory Manifold, Design Director
  • gregory.manifold@washpost.com
  • 202-334-6722


  • Brian Gross, Deputy Design Director
  • brian.gross@washpost.com
  • 202-334-9871


  • Kenisha Malcolm, Universal News Desk Editor (homepage, online platforms)
  • kenisha.malcolm@washpost.com
  • 202-334-5225


  • Emily Tsao, Deputy Universal News Desk Editor
  • emily.tsao@washpost.com
  • 202-334-4037


  • Jeremy Gilbert, Director, Strategic Initiatives
  • jeremy.gilbert@washpost.com
  • 202.334.7612


  • Christopher Meighan, Director, Emerging News Products (new web presentations, including Snapchat and The Lily)
  • christopher.meighan@washpost.com
  • 202-334-6565


  • Greg Barber, Director, Newsroom Product
  • greg.barber@washpost.com
  • 202-334-9963


  • Chiqui Esteban, Graphics Director
  • chiqui.esteban@washpost.com
  • 202-334-5797


  • Jessica Stahl, Director of Audio
  • jessica.stahl@washpost.com
  • 202-334-9768

Leadership of The Washington Post Opinions Section

As of March 2020:[22]

  • Fred Hiatt, Editorial Page Editor
  • Fred.Hiatt@washpost.com
  • 202-334-7281


  • Jackson Diehl, Deputy Editorial Page Editor
  • Jackson.Diehl@washpost.com
  • 202-334-7467


  • Ruth Marcus, Deputy Editorial Page Editor
  • Ruth.Marcus@washpost.com
  • 202-334-7529


  • Jo-Ann Armao, Associate Editorial Page Editor
  • Joann.Armao@washpost.com
  • 202-334-6080


  • Michael Larabee, Op-Ed Editor
  • Michael.Larabee@washpost.com
  • 202-334-7528


  • Mark Lasswell, Associate Op-Ed Editor
  • Mark.Lasswell@washpost.com


  • Eli Lopez, Senior Editor for International Opinions
  • Eli.Lopez@washpost.com
  • 202-334-7333


  • Karen Attiah, Global Opinions Editor
  • Karen.Attiah@washpost.com
  • 202-334-6537


  • Christian Caryl, Democracy Post Editor
  • Christian.Caryl@washpost.com
  • 202-334-4652


  • Jamie Riley, Local Opinions & Letters Editor
  • Jamie.RileyKolsky@washpost.com
  • 202-334-6215


  • Trey Johnson, Chief Multiplatform Editor
  • Trey.Johnson@washpost.com
  • 202-334-9245


  • Becca Clemons, Digital Editor, Daily Operations
  • Rebecca.Clemons@washpost.com
  • 202-334-5124


  • James Downie, Opinion Blogs Editor
  • James.Downie@washpost.com
  • 202-334-5205


  • Kate Woodsome, Opinions Video Editor
  • Kate.Woodsome@washpost.com
  • 202-334-4972


  • Robert Gebelhoff, Assistant Editor
  • Robert.Gebelhoff@washpost.com
  • 202-334-5260

Awards

As highlighted by the Encyclopaedia Brittanica, "The paper has won numerous awards for its content, including more than 60 Pulitzer Prizes."[1]

  • 2014, Pulitzer Prize (together with The Guardian) for articles on NSA domestic spying based on leaks provided by Edward Snowden.[23]

Contact Information

Washington Post
1301 K Street NW
Washington D.C. 20071

Website: The Washington Post
Facebook: @washingtonpost
Twitter: @washingtonpost
YouTube: @WashingtonPost

Articles and Resources

Related SourceWatch

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, The Washington Post, Encyclopaedia Britannica, last updated, February 20, 2020, accessed March 5, 2020.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kevin Gosztola, "The Washington Post’s Well-Documented Bias Against Bernie Sanders", Medium, August 13, 2019, accessed March 16, 2020.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 CBS News, "Bernie Sanders echoes Trump in Washington Post feud", CBS News YouTube channel, August 13, 2019, accessed March 16, 2020.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 CNN, "Bernie Sanders makes Trump-like attack on Washington Post", CNN YouTube channel, August 13, 2019, accessed March 16, 2020.
  5. ↑ Tim Higgenbothan, "The Washington Post’s War on Bernie Continues", Jacobin, August 27, 2019, accessed March 16, 2020.
  6. ↑ Matt Bruenig, "The Washington Post Keeps Publishing False Claims About Medicare for All", Jacobin, August 14, 2018, accessed March 16, 2020.
  7. ↑ Julie Hollar, "Here’s the Evidence Corporate Media Say Is Missing of WaPo Bias Against Sanders", FAIR, August 15, 2019, accessed March 16, 2020.
  8. ↑ Adam Johnson, "Washington Post Ran 16 Negative Stories on Bernie Sanders in 16 Hours", FAIR, March 8, 2016, accessed March 16, 2020.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Craig Timberg, Chico Harlan and Peter Whoriskey, "Post names Frederick J. Ryan Jr. as new publisher", Washington Post, September 2, 2014, accessed March 16, 2020.
  10. ↑ Ed Pilkington, "Washington Post sold: Amazon's Bezos shocks media with $250m purchase", Guardian, August 4, 2013, accessed March 5, 2020.
  11. ↑ Forbes, Jeff Bezos, Forbes, accessed March 5, 2020.
  12. ↑ Electronic Frontier Foundation, "NSA Timeline 1791–2015", organizational website, accessed March 5, 2020.
  13. ↑ Barton Gellman and Ashkan Soltani, "NSA tracking cellphone locations worldwide, Snowden documents show", Washington Post, December 4, 2013, accessed March 5, 2020.
  14. ↑ Electronic Frontier Foundation, NSA Primary Sources, organizational website, accessed March 5, 2020.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Washington Post, "The Post investigates", Washington Post, accessed March 5, 2020.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Justia, New York Times Co. v. United States, 403 U.S. 713 (1971), legal website, accessed March 5, 2020.
  17. ↑ SiteWorthTraffic, Report:washingtonpost.com, organizational website, accessed March 5, 2020.
  18. ↑ Twitter, The Washington Post, organizational website, accessed March 5, 2019.
  19. ↑ Facebook, Washington Post, organizational website, accessed March 5, 2020.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Capitol Communicator, "Washington Post Circulation Drops 37 Percent Since 2009, States DCRTV; Website Visits Increasing", media website, October 4, 2015, accessed March 5, 2020.
  21. ↑ Washington Post Help Center, Leadership of The Washington Post Newsroom, newspaper website, accessed March 20, 2020.
  22. ↑ Washington Post Help Center, Leadership of The Washington Post Opinions Section, newspaper website, accessed March 20, 2020.
  23. ↑ Ed Pilkington, "Guardian and Washington Post win Pulitzer prize for NSA revelations", Guardian, April 14, 2014, accessed March 5, 2020.
Retrieved from "https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Washington_Post&oldid=821206"