Quarter Million Subscribers Cancel The Washington Post Following Non-Endorsement

At least 250,000 Washington Post readers have canceled their subscriptions since the paper announced last Friday that it would stop endorsing presidential candidates, ending a tradition spanning several decades. This figure represents about 10% of The Post’s digital subscribers.

Documents and anonymous sources familiar with the numbers report that cancellations surged online shortly after the announcement by CEO and publisher William Lewis. By Tuesday, cancellations had reached 250,000. This figure, however, does not account for any new subscribers gained during the same period or any re-subscriptions from former subscribers who may have initially canceled.

The Washington Post’s spokesperson declined to comment on subscription numbers, as the privately-held company typically does not make such data public.

The decision to end endorsements was described by Lewis as a return to The Post’s original mission and an effort to bolster its independence. He dismissed suggestions that the move was intended to favor one candidate over another. According to reports by The Post and other sources, owner Jeff Bezos ultimately made the decision to halt endorsements, with the aim of reinforcing the paper’s neutrality and restoring trust in the media. In a subsequent op-ed, Bezos called the change “a principled decision” to maintain the paper’s objectivity and regretted the timing, which came just 11 days before the election, sparking speculation about potential political motives. He denied any connection to his business interests, insisting there was “no quid pro quo of any kind.”

Before the decision, a draft endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris had reportedly been prepared. Presidential endorsements have historically been made by The Post’s Editorial Board, which operates independently of the newsroom.

Despite assurances from Bezos and Lewis, the reaction from readers and staff has been significant. More than 20 opinion columnists expressed their dissent in a Post-published piece, and three editorial board members resigned from the board, though they remain on staff. Tens of thousands of readers commented on articles covering the story, with many long-time subscribers canceling, citing concerns over perceived bias toward Donald Trump.

During a staff meeting Tuesday, several reporters requested transparency regarding the loss in subscribers, expressing concerns that the announcement had damaged their credibility with sources. In response, the editor pointed to the publication’s recent coverage, including reports involving Bezos himself, and stressed that the newsroom’s journalism remains free from corporate influence.

The cancellation spike comes amid a challenging period for media companies, many of which have turned to digital subscriptions as a primary revenue stream. The Washington Post’s digital subscriber base peaked at 3 million in January 2021 but has since fallen to approximately 2.5 million.

Projected to lose $100 million last year, The Post managed to narrow its losses to $77 million following a staff buyout program that reduced headcount by about 10%. Earlier this year, Bezos appointed Lewis to lead efforts to regain subscribers and explore new revenue streams. Staff were recently informed that The Post is beginning to see modest growth in subscribers after a two-year decline.