Jay Rosen
@jayrosen.bsky.social
Let's see... 39 years teaching journalism at NYU. A critic who tries to be useful. PressThink: the name of my subject and my site. My book: "What Are Journalists For?" (1999, Yale University Press)
Yesterday the Washington Post rid itself of Publisher and Chief Executive Will Lewis. If you're interested in those events and their tumultuous background, I would recommend this detailed account from NPR's @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social
No paywall. www.npr.org/2026/02/07/n...
No paywall. www.npr.org/2026/02/07/n...
'Washington Post' CEO departs after going AWOL during massive job cuts
Washington Post chief executive and publisher Will Lewis has departed just days after the newspaper announced massive layoffs.
www.npr.org
February 8, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Yesterday the Washington Post rid itself of Publisher and Chief Executive Will Lewis. If you're interested in those events and their tumultuous background, I would recommend this detailed account from NPR's @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social
No paywall. www.npr.org/2026/02/07/n...
No paywall. www.npr.org/2026/02/07/n...
Reposted by Jay Rosen
Whew, this new ending to the updated story
February 8, 2026 at 2:51 AM
Whew, this new ending to the updated story
Reposted by Jay Rosen
FT also suggested that he was forced out
February 8, 2026 at 2:23 AM
FT also suggested that he was forced out
Kara Swisher at www.threads.com says Will Lewis was fired.
Below that is his letter to the Post staff.
Below that is his letter to the Post staff.
February 8, 2026 at 1:58 AM
Kara Swisher at www.threads.com says Will Lewis was fired.
Below that is his letter to the Post staff.
Below that is his letter to the Post staff.
February 8, 2026 at 1:29 AM
Washington Post C.E.O. Will Lewis Steps Down After Stormy Tenure
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 11:47 PM
February 7, 2026 at 7:19 PM
If you missed it last week, here's my new thread.
It's about the key distinctions I have used to open space for thought in my 35 years as a press critic.
It's long (29 slides) but I tried to make it worth the trip. It ends with the people of Minnesota and their turn to "citizen journalism."
It's about the key distinctions I have used to open space for thought in my 35 years as a press critic.
It's long (29 slides) but I tried to make it worth the trip. It ends with the people of Minnesota and their turn to "citizen journalism."
"When in doubt, draw a distinction."
Not sure where he got it, but in grad school one of my teachers taught me that.
This (long) thread is about the key distinctions I rely on as a critic. There's a Twitter version from 2021. This one builds on that one.
I will post them one at a time. Ready?
Not sure where he got it, but in grad school one of my teachers taught me that.
This (long) thread is about the key distinctions I rely on as a critic. There's a Twitter version from 2021. This one builds on that one.
I will post them one at a time. Ready?
February 7, 2026 at 7:04 PM
If you missed it last week, here's my new thread.
It's about the key distinctions I have used to open space for thought in my 35 years as a press critic.
It's long (29 slides) but I tried to make it worth the trip. It ends with the people of Minnesota and their turn to "citizen journalism."
It's about the key distinctions I have used to open space for thought in my 35 years as a press critic.
It's long (29 slides) but I tried to make it worth the trip. It ends with the people of Minnesota and their turn to "citizen journalism."
From @status.news
"If Bezos really believes in the mission of the newspaper, it’s time for him to end his ownership of The Post."
"If Bezos really believes in the mission of the newspaper, it’s time for him to end his ownership of The Post."
February 7, 2026 at 6:08 PM
From @status.news
"If Bezos really believes in the mission of the newspaper, it’s time for him to end his ownership of The Post."
"If Bezos really believes in the mission of the newspaper, it’s time for him to end his ownership of The Post."
"Innovator, but not for this."
That's my title for FT's article, "Can he revive it?"
Nameless sources say, "they tried everything," but did they? Is the Post an innovator in business models?" Is it trying to be? Has it even looked an endowment exit? Where's his ego at? www.ft.com/content/f430...
That's my title for FT's article, "Can he revive it?"
Nameless sources say, "they tried everything," but did they? Is the Post an innovator in business models?" Is it trying to be? Has it even looked an endowment exit? Where's his ego at? www.ft.com/content/f430...
February 6, 2026 at 5:08 PM
"Innovator, but not for this."
That's my title for FT's article, "Can he revive it?"
Nameless sources say, "they tried everything," but did they? Is the Post an innovator in business models?" Is it trying to be? Has it even looked an endowment exit? Where's his ego at? www.ft.com/content/f430...
That's my title for FT's article, "Can he revive it?"
Nameless sources say, "they tried everything," but did they? Is the Post an innovator in business models?" Is it trying to be? Has it even looked an endowment exit? Where's his ego at? www.ft.com/content/f430...
Today's @status.news has this about the Washington Post:
The Post's chief executive Will Lewis, who was entirely MIA during the layoffs Wednesday and has not said a word about them, turned up at the NFL Honors red carpet in San Francisco on Thursday.
The Post's chief executive Will Lewis, who was entirely MIA during the layoffs Wednesday and has not said a word about them, turned up at the NFL Honors red carpet in San Francisco on Thursday.
February 6, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Today's @status.news has this about the Washington Post:
The Post's chief executive Will Lewis, who was entirely MIA during the layoffs Wednesday and has not said a word about them, turned up at the NFL Honors red carpet in San Francisco on Thursday.
The Post's chief executive Will Lewis, who was entirely MIA during the layoffs Wednesday and has not said a word about them, turned up at the NFL Honors red carpet in San Francisco on Thursday.
"When you cut your sports section, it’s because you actually don’t want the paper to exist anymore." —Josh Marshall
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/do-yo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/do-yo...
‘Do You Speak Billionaire?’ and Other Stories From the Fall of the Washington Post
I think I can say with little fear of contradiction that I...
talkingpointsmemo.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:54 PM
"When you cut your sports section, it’s because you actually don’t want the paper to exist anymore." —Josh Marshall
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/do-yo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/do-yo...
In "The Murder of The Washington Post by Ashley Parker there is one sentence that made me want to know more.
This one:
"Maybe, as many of us who deeply love the Post fear, the decimation is the plan."
Could be! But after that sentence the plan disappears.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
This one:
"Maybe, as many of us who deeply love the Post fear, the decimation is the plan."
Could be! But after that sentence the plan disappears.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
The Murder of The Washington Post
Today’s layoffs are the latest attempt to kill what makes the paper special.
www.theatlantic.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:09 PM
In "The Murder of The Washington Post by Ashley Parker there is one sentence that made me want to know more.
This one:
"Maybe, as many of us who deeply love the Post fear, the decimation is the plan."
Could be! But after that sentence the plan disappears.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
This one:
"Maybe, as many of us who deeply love the Post fear, the decimation is the plan."
Could be! But after that sentence the plan disappears.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
I bring you this from the pen of Dylan Byers at @puck.news so you can see how adult-in-the-room punditry works.
When at the last minute Bezos shocked everyone by killing the Post's endorsement of Kamala Harris, signaling a new openness to Trump, and enraging core audiences...that's now a "squable."
When at the last minute Bezos shocked everyone by killing the Post's endorsement of Kamala Harris, signaling a new openness to Trump, and enraging core audiences...that's now a "squable."
February 5, 2026 at 5:34 PM
I bring you this from the pen of Dylan Byers at @puck.news so you can see how adult-in-the-room punditry works.
When at the last minute Bezos shocked everyone by killing the Post's endorsement of Kamala Harris, signaling a new openness to Trump, and enraging core audiences...that's now a "squable."
When at the last minute Bezos shocked everyone by killing the Post's endorsement of Kamala Harris, signaling a new openness to Trump, and enraging core audiences...that's now a "squable."
I agree, David. That he didn't show up to face the staff today makes it impossible to believe that he cares about the Post.
I don't see how Will Lewis can effectively lead WaPo.
Lewis did not save Bezos from himself on opinion pages. (375K+ cancelations) His innovations did not stem enough red ink.
And he has not taken any ownership of the devastating ensuing cuts. He's making Murray own it alone.
Lewis did not save Bezos from himself on opinion pages. (375K+ cancelations) His innovations did not stem enough red ink.
And he has not taken any ownership of the devastating ensuing cuts. He's making Murray own it alone.
February 4, 2026 at 11:18 PM
I agree, David. That he didn't show up to face the staff today makes it impossible to believe that he cares about the Post.
"This is a case study in near-instant, self-inflicted brand destruction."
Former Washington Post editor Marty Baron dismembers Jeff Bezos.
Former Washington Post editor Marty Baron dismembers Jeff Bezos.
A staggering statement from former Washington Post editor Marty Baron: "This ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations."
February 4, 2026 at 6:03 PM
"This is a case study in near-instant, self-inflicted brand destruction."
Former Washington Post editor Marty Baron dismembers Jeff Bezos.
Former Washington Post editor Marty Baron dismembers Jeff Bezos.
"The Post’s metro section will shrink, and the books section will close..." www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/b...
The Washington Post is shrinking the part that's about the DC area where people, you know... live. Makes sense, right?
[gift link and sarcasm]
The Washington Post is shrinking the part that's about the DC area where people, you know... live. Makes sense, right?
[gift link and sarcasm]
Washington Post Begins Laying Off More Than 300 Journalists
www.nytimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:38 PM
"The Post’s metro section will shrink, and the books section will close..." www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/b...
The Washington Post is shrinking the part that's about the DC area where people, you know... live. Makes sense, right?
[gift link and sarcasm]
The Washington Post is shrinking the part that's about the DC area where people, you know... live. Makes sense, right?
[gift link and sarcasm]
For those of you who:
* Feel enraged to watch billionaires destroy important newsrooms
and
* Recall vaguely that Jeff Bezos was once considered a courageous owner who fortified the Washington Post
I recommend this piece by the Post's former fact-checker
glennkessler.substack.com/p/a-billiona...
* Feel enraged to watch billionaires destroy important newsrooms
and
* Recall vaguely that Jeff Bezos was once considered a courageous owner who fortified the Washington Post
I recommend this piece by the Post's former fact-checker
glennkessler.substack.com/p/a-billiona...
A Billionaire’s Surrender
Bezos is not trying to save The Washington Post. He’s trying to survive Donald Trump.
glennkessler.substack.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:27 PM
For those of you who:
* Feel enraged to watch billionaires destroy important newsrooms
and
* Recall vaguely that Jeff Bezos was once considered a courageous owner who fortified the Washington Post
I recommend this piece by the Post's former fact-checker
glennkessler.substack.com/p/a-billiona...
* Feel enraged to watch billionaires destroy important newsrooms
and
* Recall vaguely that Jeff Bezos was once considered a courageous owner who fortified the Washington Post
I recommend this piece by the Post's former fact-checker
glennkessler.substack.com/p/a-billiona...
In the latest release of the Epstein papers there's a lot about Peter Attia, the YouTube wellness influencer whom Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss had named as a network contributor.
That would seem to be an easy fix: Sever all ties to Attia. According to @status.news, Weiss wants to stand by her man.
That would seem to be an easy fix: Sever all ties to Attia. According to @status.news, Weiss wants to stand by her man.
February 4, 2026 at 2:42 PM
In the latest release of the Epstein papers there's a lot about Peter Attia, the YouTube wellness influencer whom Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss had named as a network contributor.
That would seem to be an easy fix: Sever all ties to Attia. According to @status.news, Weiss wants to stand by her man.
That would seem to be an easy fix: Sever all ties to Attia. According to @status.news, Weiss wants to stand by her man.
When Sullivan says they don't "seem to know how to bring anything other than wide-eyed credulity to his utterances," I hear her as saying, "there may be some missing knowledge here."
Yes, missing. Not just the will or (excuse me) the balls, but a how-to part that's still under-developed.
Possible?
Yes, missing. Not just the will or (excuse me) the balls, but a how-to part that's still under-developed.
Possible?
"The news media doesn’t seem to know how to bring anything other than wide-eyed credulity to Trump's utterances, even after all the lies and deceit of the past decade."
Great @sulliview.bsky.social takedown of coverage of "pivot" on ICE and Greenland:
margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/dear-media...
Great @sulliview.bsky.social takedown of coverage of "pivot" on ICE and Greenland:
margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/dear-media...
Dear media, stop acting like Trump means what he says
Whether over "a deal" on Greenland or a "pivot" on ICE, we need far more skepticism
margaretsullivan.substack.com
February 3, 2026 at 7:22 PM
When Sullivan says they don't "seem to know how to bring anything other than wide-eyed credulity to his utterances," I hear her as saying, "there may be some missing knowledge here."
Yes, missing. Not just the will or (excuse me) the balls, but a how-to part that's still under-developed.
Possible?
Yes, missing. Not just the will or (excuse me) the balls, but a how-to part that's still under-developed.
Possible?
Have you noticed this? I have.
"The news media doesn’t seem to know how to bring anything other than wide-eyed credulity to his utterances, even after all the lies and deceit of the past decade."
That's @sulliview.bsky.social at her site.
margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/dear-media...
"The news media doesn’t seem to know how to bring anything other than wide-eyed credulity to his utterances, even after all the lies and deceit of the past decade."
That's @sulliview.bsky.social at her site.
margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/dear-media...
Dear media, stop acting like Trump means what he says
Whether over "a deal" on Greenland or a "pivot" on ICE, we need far more skepticism
margaretsullivan.substack.com
February 3, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Have you noticed this? I have.
"The news media doesn’t seem to know how to bring anything other than wide-eyed credulity to his utterances, even after all the lies and deceit of the past decade."
That's @sulliview.bsky.social at her site.
margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/dear-media...
"The news media doesn’t seem to know how to bring anything other than wide-eyed credulity to his utterances, even after all the lies and deceit of the past decade."
That's @sulliview.bsky.social at her site.
margaretsullivan.substack.com/p/dear-media...
"I'd trust citizen journalism as much as I'd trust a citizen surgeon." Back in the day, we took years of humor like that as the curmudgeons took their time fading out.
Here's my definition of "citizen journalism" from 2008. The term has renewed importance.
archive.pressthink.org/2008/07/14/a...
Here's my definition of "citizen journalism" from 2008. The term has renewed importance.
archive.pressthink.org/2008/07/14/a...
PressThink: A Most Useful Definition of Citizen Journalism
archive.pressthink.org
February 3, 2026 at 3:45 PM
"I'd trust citizen journalism as much as I'd trust a citizen surgeon." Back in the day, we took years of humor like that as the curmudgeons took their time fading out.
Here's my definition of "citizen journalism" from 2008. The term has renewed importance.
archive.pressthink.org/2008/07/14/a...
Here's my definition of "citizen journalism" from 2008. The term has renewed importance.
archive.pressthink.org/2008/07/14/a...
Read @joshtpm.bsky.social on defeating the threat to voting rights.
"The promise of the American democratic experiment now resides in the Free States of the Union. They cannot accede to the illegitimate actions of a renegade executive."
Me: take it very seriously, without lapsing into cynicism.
"The promise of the American democratic experiment now resides in the Free States of the Union. They cannot accede to the illegitimate actions of a renegade executive."
Me: take it very seriously, without lapsing into cynicism.
February 2, 2026 at 10:55 PM
Read @joshtpm.bsky.social on defeating the threat to voting rights.
"The promise of the American democratic experiment now resides in the Free States of the Union. They cannot accede to the illegitimate actions of a renegade executive."
Me: take it very seriously, without lapsing into cynicism.
"The promise of the American democratic experiment now resides in the Free States of the Union. They cannot accede to the illegitimate actions of a renegade executive."
Me: take it very seriously, without lapsing into cynicism.
In Minnesota legacy newspaper with paywall tries to meet the moment with... www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/the-...
February 2, 2026 at 8:45 PM
In Minnesota legacy newspaper with paywall tries to meet the moment with... www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/the-...
If you missed it over the weekend, here's my new thread. It's about the key distinctions I have used to open space for thought in my 35 years as a press critic.
It's long (29 slides) but I tried to make it worth the trip. It ends with the people of Minnesota and their turn to "citizen journalism."
It's long (29 slides) but I tried to make it worth the trip. It ends with the people of Minnesota and their turn to "citizen journalism."
"When in doubt, draw a distinction."
Not sure where he got it, but in grad school one of my teachers taught me that.
This (long) thread is about the key distinctions I rely on as a critic. There's a Twitter version from 2021. This one builds on that one.
I will post them one at a time. Ready?
Not sure where he got it, but in grad school one of my teachers taught me that.
This (long) thread is about the key distinctions I rely on as a critic. There's a Twitter version from 2021. This one builds on that one.
I will post them one at a time. Ready?
February 2, 2026 at 7:27 PM
If you missed it over the weekend, here's my new thread. It's about the key distinctions I have used to open space for thought in my 35 years as a press critic.
It's long (29 slides) but I tried to make it worth the trip. It ends with the people of Minnesota and their turn to "citizen journalism."
It's long (29 slides) but I tried to make it worth the trip. It ends with the people of Minnesota and their turn to "citizen journalism."