The opinion section is a fundamental part of a newspaper. It allows ideas to be expressed while backed by evidence. The section aims to foster an environment where ideas can be shared. And no, not everyone will always agree with what is said, but that’s okay—this section’s purpose is to open up the opportunity to encourage new discussions. 

Jeff Bezos’s decision to narrow the topics covered by the opinions section to focus on defending personal liberties and the free market shows the complete shift to conscious journalism that is careful not to upset anyone, especially those in power. 

“There was a time when a newspaper, especially one that was a local monopoly, might have seen it as a service to bring to the reader’s doorstep every morning a broad-based opinion section that sought to cover all views,” Bezos wrote on X. “Today, the internet does that job.” 

Given the current landscape of fake news, the assertion that it is now the internet’s job to disseminate opinions is a dangerous idea. Anyone can say anything they want on the internet without evidence and seemingly without consequence. This is not what happens in the opinions section. This section is where writers and guest writers with extensive qualifications propose ideas rooted in evidence and lived experience. To think that a major news organization would rather ideas be transferred through unqualified, unregulated internet postings is a disheartening look into the paper’s goals. 

In 2017, The Post adopted the slogan, “Democracy Dies in Darkness.” This quote initially came from a judicial opinion in a First Amendment case. This phrase was coined by The Post as they saw it fitting for the paper, which has a long-standing reputation for providing impactful news, such as uncovering the Watergate scandal. “Our position must be conveyed ‘disruptively’ so we can shake consumers out of their news-as-commodity mindset,” Post editors wrote in a document during the development of the slogan. The recent actions of The Post show a dramatic change in the internal goals of the paper. 

Now, in a highly charged political landscape, we need the landscape for political commentary that comes from both sides of the political spectrum. It is not the time for fears from political leaders and the business consequences to dictate what points of view can be published. 

This is not the first time The Post has drastically changed its coverage of the opinions section in the past year. In October, just before the election, Bezos announced that The Post would not endorse a presidential candidate. In “a note from our owner,” Bezos defended this action, saying that editorial endorsements created an impression of bias at a time when Americans didn’t trust the media and had no overall weight on the election. 

This overarching idea that opinion pieces contribute to the overall distrust in the media is an unfair assertion. In a newspaper, the opinion section is clearly labeled as a section for opinions. Opinions carry bias, but that is not a reason to shy away from them. The answer to media distrust isn’t to turn away from writing things that some people don’t want to hear as this does a dishonor to the writer who has every right to express those ideas. Instead, distrust stems from dictating the content of an opinion section to serve individual interests. 

Limiting the scope of the opinions section to align with specific interests undermines the foundation of open discourse that a reputable newspaper should uphold. The Post risks diminishing its credibility and losing loyal readers by restricting the range of perspectives. The press should not feel the need to cater to fear or business interests but should welcome diverse viewpoints. At a time when public trust in the media is dwindling, the solution is not to back away from debate but to reaffirm the commitment to informed discussions.

If you would like to voice your opinion on an issue you feel is relevant to our community, please do so here. Anyone is able and welcome to submit a Letter to the Editor, regardless of journalistic experience or writing skills. Submissions may be published either online or in a print issue.