How to fight a president, please a billionaire, and save a newspaper
Oct 6, 2023
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Marty Baron, former editor of The Washington Post and author of Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos, and The Washington Post, spills the tea on what happened between Bezos and Trump, the challenges of journalism, impressions of Bezos as a newspaper owner, debate over the 15-minute metric, navigating dumb ideas, exploring editorial approaches, and defending against defamation lawsuits.
Marty Baron highlights the clash between the media and Trump, including the revoking of press credentials from the Washington Post.
Marty Baron discusses the need for innovative thinking, the struggle to balance traditional newsroom values with evolving expectations, and the importance of investigative reporting.
Deep dives
Bezos and Trump: The Clash of Power
This podcast episode features Marty Barron, former editor of the Washington Post, discussing his experiences during the Trump administration and under the ownership of Jeff Bezos. Barron highlights the clash between the media and Trump, including the revoking of press credentials from the Washington Post. Barron also emphasizes the financial challenges faced by the Washington Post and the disruption caused by technology. He touches on the importance of maintaining core principles in journalism, such as investigative reporting and holding power accountable. Barron discusses the generational and ideological divide within newsrooms and his concerns about journalists expressing personal opinions on social media. He also shares insights into his relationship with Bezos and the challenges of managing a newsroom under billionaire ownership.
Navigating Challenges and New Ideas
Marty Barron reflects on his role as editor and his approach to managing the Washington Post during times of challenge and change. He discusses the need for innovative thinking, the struggle to balance traditional newsroom values with evolving expectations, and the importance of investigative reporting. Barron highlights the influence of owner Jeff Bezos and the potential benefit of finding common ground with the Trump administration. He also addresses the generational divide within newsrooms and the need for clear standards and guidelines in the era of social media.
Maintaining Faith in Journalism
Barron emphasizes the importance of maintaining core journalistic principles at the Washington Post, particularly during turbulent times such as the Trump administration. He discusses the significance of investigative reporting and the need for newsrooms to be transparent, hold power accountable, and remain loyal to readers. Barron also addresses the challenges of managing an editorial page and balancing different perspectives within an organization. He shares insights into his relationship with Bezos, the impact of Bezos' ownership on the post, and the role of the editorial page in expressing opinions while upholding journalistic integrity.
The Role of Defamation and Legal Defense
Barron discusses the increasing targeting of the media with defamation and the need for newsrooms to strengthen their legal staff. He suggests that news organizations consider bringing defamation lawsuits to defend their reputations and push back against those who try to intimidate and damage them. Barron argues that if others exploit defamation laws to harm the media, newsrooms should utilize these laws to their advantage. He also addresses potential concerns about escalation and the impact of new laws on First Amendment rights.
Marty Baron ran The Washington Post’s newsroom for nine years.
In that time, Marty clashed with then-president Donald Trump.
He pacified rebellions from his younger and increasingly more ideological staff.
And he partnered with Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos to take on arguably the biggest disrupter of all: technology.
He’s written about all of this — and a lot more — in his new book, "Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos, and The Washington Post."
Today, Marty is joining Playbook co-author and Deep Dive host Ryan Lizza to spill the tea on what actually happened between Bezos and Trump; what the media should be doing to earn your trust; and whether billionaires like Jeff Bezos are secretly pulling the strings behind closed doors.
Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO. Marty Baron is the retired executive editor of The Washington Post. Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.
