Amazon's Bezos Sidelined in Washington Post Power Struggle

Last week, shortly after Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ company cut loose $125 million from its local reporting budget and laid off 400 staffers, it became clear that something was amiss at the nation’s capital newspaper. The sudden departure of CEO Will Lewis only added to the sense of turmoil, leaving many wondering about Bezos’ influence behind the scenes. Amazon had initially sunk a reported $250 million into the struggling paper in 2013, hoping to boost its profile and expand its online advertising business. However, under Bezos’ leadership, Amazon’s investment in the Washington Post has been steadily decreased over the years. In an effort to restructure the company, Amazon took the drastic measure of laying off nearly a third of the Post’s workforce, citing a desire to “simplify” the organization and focus on more profitable areas of its business. While some have speculated that Bezos’ decision was motivated by a desire to distance himself from the paper’s increasingly negative coverage of his personal and business dealings, others argue that Amazon simply lost interest in the Post after seeing its advertising revenue decline.