The Bezos Doctrine: Washington Post and the Danger of a Single Voice

Bezos' Washington Post shifts, narrowing debate, echoing a global trend where media moguls shape discourse to their personal ends, undermining democratic principles.

Jeff Bezos' recent announcement¹ regarding the Washington Post's editorial policy marks a disquieting shift towards what many fear could be a narrowing of the spectrum of debate within one of America's most storied newspapers. This move to explicitly endorse and defend the principles of "personal liberties and free markets" while relegating opposing viewpoints to be published elsewhere is not merely an editorial choice; it is a clarion call that underscores the peril of media monopolies owned by billionaires². Such a strategy, transparent in its intent, is emblematic of a broader, more corrosive trend where the affluent seek to shape public discourse by owning the platforms on which it occurs.

Historically, the press is envisioned as a broad church, housing a cacophony of voices, not as a choir singing a single hymn. By choosing which opinions to amplify and which to silence, Bezos is steering the Post into dangerous waters, reminiscent of media operations in authoritarian regimes where …