The Washington Post

The Washington Post, often called The Post or informally WaPo, is an important American daily newspaper based in Washington, D.C.. It is the most read newspaper in the Washington metropolitan area and is considered one of the most trusted news sources in the United States. In 2023, it had 130,000 people who still got a printed copy, and 2.5 million people read it online. By 2025, the number of printed copies dropped below 100,000 for the first time in over fifty years.

The newspaper started in 1877 and went through many changes in its early days. In 1933, a man named Eugene Meyer bought it and helped it become strong again. Later, his daughter Katharine and her husband Phil Graham bought other newspapers to make The Post even better. One of its most famous moments was in 1971 when it published the Pentagon Papers, which helped people speak out against the Vietnam War. Reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein also worked on uncovering the Watergate scandal, which led to President Richard Nixon leaving office in 1974.

In 2013, the newspaper was sold to Jeff Bezos, who owns a company called Nash Holdings. The Washington Post has won 76 Pulitzer Prizes, which are top awards for journalism, second only to The New York Times. It is known for its strong political reporting and still has reporters in other countries, with major news centers in London and Seoul.

Bureaus and circulation

As of 2021, the newspaper had 21 foreign offices in cities such as Baghdad, Beijing, Beirut, Berlin, Brussels, Cairo, Dakar, Hong Kong, Islamabad, Istanbul, Jerusalem, London, Mexico City, Moscow, Nairobi, New Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Seoul, Tokyo, and Toronto. It also has local offices in Maryland and Virginia.

In 2009, the newspaper stopped printing three U.S. regional offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City to focus more on stories from Washington, D.C. and local news. Most of its readers live in Washington, D.C., and nearby areas. As of March 2023, the newspaper’s average printed weekday circulation was 139,232, making it the third-largest newspaper in the country by circulation.

History

19th century

The newspaper was started in 1877 by Stilson Hutchins. In 1880, it added a Sunday edition, becoming the first newspaper in the city to publish every day of the week.

In 1889, Hutchins sold the newspaper to Frank Hatton and Beriah Wilkins. They asked John Philip Sousa to write a march for the newspaper. Sousa’s music became very popular and is still well-known today. In 1893, the newspaper moved to a new building where it stayed until 1950.

20th century

After Wilkins died in 1903, his sons ran the newspaper for two years before selling it in 1905. During World War I, the newspaper printed an illustration that became famous and inspired the creation of the teddy bear.

In 1929, Eugene Meyer bought the newspaper. Under his ownership, the newspaper recovered and grew. In 1954, it merged with another newspaper, becoming The Washington Post and Times-Herald.

In 1963, Katharine Graham took over and became the publisher in 1969. She led the newspaper during important events, including the Watergate scandal, where reporters uncovered facts that led to a president leaving office. The newspaper won prizes for its work.

Jeff Bezos era (since 2013)

In 2013, Jeff Bezos bought The Washington Post. He wanted to make the newspaper more digital and reach more people online. The newspaper moved to a new building in 2015 and has continued to change and adapt over the years.

Political positions

20th century

In 1933, a businessman named Eugene Meyer bought the struggling Post newspaper. He promised not to let his own political views affect the paper. However, because he was a Republican and worked with important government leaders, his opinions did influence the stories and editorials, especially against new government programs. His wife, Agnes, was a journalist with different political ideas and wrote many articles for the paper.

Later, Meyer's son-in-law Phil Graham became the publisher. During this time, the paper's staff became friends with famous people, which shaped its political views. The Post gained attention in 1950 for creating the term "McCarthyism" in a cartoon. This term described unfair accusations made by Senator Joseph McCarthy against people he thought were doing things against America.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, new leaders took over the Post, leading to big stories like the Pentagon Papers and the Watergate scandal. These stories helped change public opinion about the Vietnam War and government leaders.

21st century

In recent years, the Post has featured writers with different political views. Some write from a more left-leaning perspective, while others are more conservative. The paper has also started a column called "The Fact Checker" to examine the truth behind political claims.

After the 2024 presidential election, the Post decided not to endorse any candidate. This decision was unusual because the paper had always supported Democratic candidates in past elections. Some people were upset about this change, feeling that the paper was not standing up for what it believed in. Others thought it was a way to let readers decide for themselves who to vote for.

Political endorsements

The Post usually supports Democratic candidates for most elections. However, it has sometimes backed Republican candidates for certain local and state positions. In 2024, the paper made a big change by deciding not to endorse any presidential candidate for the first time in many years. This decision caused debate among its staff and readers.

2024 discontinuation of presidential endorsements

Eleven days before the 2024 presidential election, the Post announced it would not endorse a candidate. This was the first time since 1988 that the paper did not support the Democratic candidate. The decision was made by the paper's owner, Jeff Bezos, and was seen by some as a step back from the paper's usual role in helping readers make informed choices. Many people, including some of the paper's own writers, were disappointed and felt the move was a mistake.

Incidents and concerns

"Jimmy's World" fabrication

Further information: Janet Cooke

In 1980, a story in the Post told about an eight-year-old who used a harmful substance. The writer, Janet Cooke, won an award for the story. But later, people found out the story was made up, and the award was taken back.

Private "salon" solicitation

In 2009, the Post planned special dinners for important people. These dinners cost a lot of money, and people could talk with Post writers there. Many thought this was not fair because it made it seem like important people could buy time with the writers. The plan was stopped quickly.

China Daily advertising supplements

Further information: China Daily

Starting in 2011, the Post included special pages from a newspaper owned by a government in China. Some people thought it was not clear to readers that these pages were paid ads. The Post stopped running these pages in 2019.

Felicia Sonmez

In 2020, a Post reporter shared messages online about a serious event involving a famous person who had recently passed away. The Post temporarily stopped her from working. Later, she sued the Post for treating her unfairly, but the court decided her claims were not strong enough.

Lawsuit by Covington Catholic High School student

Main article: 2019 Lincoln Memorial confrontation

In 2019, a student from a school sued the Post for stories they said were not true about him. The Post settled the lawsuit in 2020.

Op-eds and columns

The Post has published many opinion pieces that people have disagreed with over the years. Some have talked about serious topics in ways that others found upsetting.

Criticism by elected officials

Some leaders have spoken out against the Post. One leader once said the Post was doing poor work, but later apologized when their reports turned out to be true. Another leader often criticized the Post on social media. In 2020, another leader thought the Post was treating his campaign unfairly.

Fossil fuel advertising

In 2023, it was reported that the Post created ads for companies that get energy from things that hurt our planet. Some writers who report on climate change were worried this might make readers not trust their stories.

Organization

The Washington Post has had many important leaders over the years. Some of the major owners include individuals like Stilson Hutchins and groups such as Nash Holdings, led by Jeff Bezos since 2013. Famous publishers include Katharine Graham and Donald E. Graham, while well-known executive editors like Ben Bradlee and Sally Buzbee have guided the newspaper's reporting.

Today, the newspaper has many talented journalists, both current and former, who help share important news stories. The Post also offers publishing tools to other news organizations around the world. Over the years, employees have worked together to ensure fair treatment and good working conditions through unions.