Recently, Jeff Bezos announced that the Washington Post opinion section will now promote a single viewpoint around "personal liberties and free markets." Opinion editor David Shipley will be leaving, and the Post is searching for his replacement.
After the news came out, some people, including STAT executive editor Rick Berke, asked me if I would have stayed if I were Shipley. I had to say no.
Opinion sections are strange beasts. Historically, they do align with the owner's politics — witness the Wall Street Journal, whose conservative opinion section is aligned with owner Rupert Murdoch's point of view. And I think that's fine, so long as that perspective is clearly stated and doesn't influence the reporting. In that sense, Bezos has the right to do what he wants.
But for a paper that has traditionally published a wide range of viewpoints to suddenly pull back is not the same having a baked-in perspective from the beginning.
I also think that at this political moment, we don't need more siloed opining. We need more clear, well-argued op-eds from a variety of authors, including those in disagreement. That's how readers can best understand the limits of their own thinking.
Plus: Only publishing the same points of view over and over again? How boring, as both a reader and editor.
What's your opinion about my opinion of opinion pages? Tell me about it.
Recommendation of the week: "Yellowjackets" is back for a third season on Showtime/Paramount Plus, and while it is somewhat diminished from its glorious first season, I can't stop watching. The '90s music, Melanie Lynskey, Christina Ricci, "there's no book club?!?" — who knew a show about cannibalism could be so comforting?
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