The Washington Post experienced a dramatic decline in online readership during President Biden's term, losing nearly 90% of its digital audience, according to recent reports. Internal data shared with Semafor reveals a stark contrast between the Post's peak daily readership at the start of the Biden administration and its significantly reduced numbers by the end. Semafor reported that the Post's daily active users plummeted from approximately 22.5 million in January 2021 to around 2.5-3 million by mid-2024. This translates to a staggering 87% drop.
The New York Post highlighted the overall decline, noting a decrease from 114 million readers in November 2020 to 54 million in November 2024. This loss in readership has significantly impacted the Post's financial standing, with The Wall Street Journal reporting an estimated $100 million loss in subscription and advertising revenue in 2024.
Further exacerbating the situation was owner Jeff Bezos' decision not to endorse a presidential candidate in 2024, leading to a loss of 250,000 paid subscribers and the resignation of several key staff members. Among those departing were editor at large Robert Kagan, reporters Josh Dawsey, Ashley Parker, Michael Scherer, Tyler Page, and Leigh Ann Caldwell, columnist Charles Lane, veteran editor Matea Gold, and Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Ann Telnaes, who resigned after the Post refused to publish her cartoon critical of Bezos and Trump. Columnist Jennifer Rubin also resigned, criticizing the Post's handling of Donald Trump and its perceived failure to act as a robust free press. Adding to the turmoil, reports emerged of impending layoffs affecting 4% of the Post's business divisions.
The Washington Post has not yet commented publicly on these developments.
