All in Washington Post
When Facebook’s data practices began dominating the news last month, The Washington Post was eager to share the story… One of the companies that profits most from closely tracking users is Jeff Bezos’ Amazon, and since 2013, Bezos has owned The Washington Post.
How the Post has rejected or altered submitted pieces criticizing its journalism and business operations.
“Never pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel,” Mark Twain advised. In 1975, a hard-nosed union did just that – and lost.
A review of Washington Post articles on Uber from this year—during which damning revelations about the company came in waves—shows that the paper is informing readers infrequently, and not at all in the past four months, that Post owner Jeff Bezos was, and presumably still is, an Uber investor.
When it comes to covering education the Washington Post is nothing if not consistent. For nearly a decade, as Michelle Rhee and then her close friend Kaya Henderson headed up D.C. Public Schools, the Post was their cheerleader. And now, even after the anti-union duo has departed, the Post carries on.
Today is Vincent Orange’s first official day heading up the D.C. Chamber of Commerce. It’s also his last as a member of the D.C. Council. The latter is not by choice.
“We cover Uber as we would any other company,” Post executive editor Marty Baron wrote in an email response to submitted questions. “Jeff Bezos has never had any influence over our coverage.”
The Washington Post worked hard to defeat Donna Edwards, then wasted no time crafting a narrative to explain her loss. “Lesson from Edwards’s loss: ‘It shouldn’t be about race,’” read a Post headline on election night.
A potential “pay-to-play” involving a city leader asking for a large donation from a contractor accused of stealing millions and serving kids spoiled food. That’s about as juicy a local story as they come, unless you’re the Washington Post.
D.C.’s paper of record, while maintaining its reputation as an objective news source, is on the verge of swinging the mayoral election.
The Washington Post has called for the resignation of yet another member of the D.C. Council. And who is the Post going after this time?
When it comes to pursuing potential corruption, D.C. has a double standard. Elected officials advocating for the city’s African Americans are scrutinized to within an inch of their lives, while those looking out for the downtown business community largely get a pass.
