---
title: "Bezos says Post withheld endorsement to fight ‘credibility gap’"
description: "Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, the owner of the Washington Post, said the newspaper’s decision to stop endorsing presidential candidates addresses a “credibility gap” afflicting the media industry."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Business Maverick"
author: "Bloomberg"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/bloomberg/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-10-29-bezos-says-post-withheld-endorsement-to-fight-credibility-gap/"
published: "2024-10-29T05:51:19"
updated: "2024-10-29T05:51:21"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 300
---

# Bezos says Post withheld endorsement to fight ‘credibility gap’

> Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, the owner of the Washington Post, said the newspaper’s decision to stop endorsing presidential candidates addresses a “credibility gap” afflicting the media industry.

By Bloomberg · Published 29 October 2024, 07:51 SAST · Updated 29 October 2024, 07:51 SAST

## Key points
- In a move that’s more shocking than a cat video going viral, Jeff Bezos declares the Washington Post will no longer endorse presidential candidates, insisting it’s all about combating perceived bias—just as 200,000 subscribers hit the unsubscribe button faster than you can say “fake news.”
- Jeff Bezos acknowledges widespread perceptions of media bias, emphasizing the need for principled decisions in journalism.
- The Washington Post will cease endorsing presidential candidates, a practice it maintained since 1978, sparking significant backlash.
- The decision led to resignations among staff and the cancellation of approximately 200,000 subscriptions, reflecting deep divisions within the paper.
- Bezos argues that endorsements do not influence elections but rather contribute to perceived bias, urging a shift away from outdated practices.

## Content

“Most people believe the media is biased,” Bezos said in an [essay](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/10/28/jeff-bezos-washington-post-trust/) published on the Post’s website. “Anyone who doesn’t see this is paying scant attention to reality.”

Bezos also said the Post’s action was unrelated to former president Donald Trump’s meeting with executives from Blue Origin, another of his businesses, on the day of the announcement.

“I sighed when I found out, because I knew it would provide ammunition to those who would like to frame this as anything other than a principled decision,” Bezos wrote.

Read More: [Washington Post to No Longer Endorse Presidential Candidates](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-25/washington-post-will-no-longer-endorse-presidential-candidates)

The Post’s publisher, William Lewis, announced on 25 October that the newspaper would no longer choose sides in presidential races, something it has done regularly since 1978. Editorial staff had been prepared to endorse Trump’s Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris.

The decision set off a firestorm of criticism, both inside and outside of the newspaper. Multiple editors and writers resigned. As many as 200,000 subscribers, or 8% of the total, cancelled, National Public Radio reported. A spokesperson for the Post declined to comment.

Among those criticising the decision were former Post executive editor Marty Baron, as well as Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the Post reporters whose reporting on the Watergate scandal led President Richard Nixon to resign.

In his essay, Bezos said presidential endorsements do “nothing to tip the scales of an election”. Instead they “create a perception of bias”.

That has allowed the space to be filled by social media posts and other unverified news sources. He urged readers to realise that changes like the endorsement decision are necessary.

“I will also not allow this paper to stay on autopilot and fade into irrelevance — overtaken by unresearched podcasts and social media barbs — not without a fight,” Bezos wrote.