Top Washington Post Columnist Resigns Over Editorial Changes

Washington, D.C. — Ruth Marcus, a prominent columnist for The Washington Post, announced her resignation on Monday, citing the rejection of her piece criticizing owner Jeff Bezos‘ recent editorial changes as a pivotal reason for her departure. Marcus, who has worked at The Post since 1984, stated in her resignation letter that the company’s current editorial direction undermines journalistic independence.

In her letter addressed to Bezos and the paper’s CEO, Will Lewis, Marcus expressed her concern that the new policies threaten to compromise the integrity of the opinion section. “Independent judgment is no longer in play at The Post opinion section,” she remarked. “This will break the trust of readers that columnists are writing what they believe, and not what the owner has deemed acceptable.”

Marcus’s resignation follows a significant policy shift initiated by Bezos, who announced that the opinion section would focus on promoting “personal liberties and free markets.” According to a memo circulated to staff last month, Bezos instructed that the paper would not publish views that diverge from these themes, a directive that Marcus found deeply troubling.

“Will’s decision to not run the column that I wrote respectfully dissenting from Jeff’s edict underscores that the traditional freedom of columnists to select topics and express their thoughts has been dangerously eroded,” she wrote, underscoring the significance of the matter.

The policy changes at The Post have already led to a notable backlash, with more than 75,000 digital subscribers reportedly canceling subscriptions shortly after the announcement. Following these shifts, Opinions Editor David Shipley resigned as well, indicating dissent against Bezos’s new guidelines.

In her decades-long tenure at The Post, Marcus has held various roles including reporter, editorial writer, and deputy national editor. “I have the deepest affection and admiration for my colleagues and will miss them every day,” she concluded. “I love the Post. It breaks my heart to conclude that I must leave.”

The Washington Post confirmed Marcus’s resignation through a spokesperson, who noted, “We’re grateful for Ruth’s significant contributions to The Washington Post over the past 40 years. We respect her decision to leave and wish her the best.”

An increasing number of journalists at The Post are reportedly expressing dissatisfaction with the new editorial stance, as Bezos’ alignment with political figures, including President Donald Trump, has raised concerns over perceptions of bias within the publication.