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applegrove

(123,576 posts)
Fri Dec 20, 2024, 11:29 PM 23 hrs ago

Kara Swisher Wants to Take The Washington Post Off Jeff Bezos' Hands

Kara Swisher Wants to Take The Washington Post Off Jeff Bezos’ Hands

I’VE GOT THIS

Janna Brancolini
Published 12.20.24 10:19AM EST

https://www.thedailybeast.com/kara-swisher-wants-to-take-the-washington-post-off-jeff-bezos-hands/

"SNIP..........

Veteran tech reporter Kara Swisher is trying to put together a team of wealthy investors to buy The Washington Post from billionaire Jeff Bezos, Axios reports. Bezos hasn’t indicated any interest in or willingness to sell, but Swisher is apparently hoping the storied paper has become enough of a headache that he will entertain offers. The Amazon founder and chief executive has come under fire recently for attempting to curry favor with President-elect Donald Trump. During the presidential election, he killed the Post editorial board’s planned endorsement of Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. After Trump won re-election, Bezos donated $1 million to his inaugural fund and joined him for dinner at his private Mar-a-Lago club. Critics say it’s all part of an attempt to bolster Bezos’ other business interests, including his space tech company, creating a conflict of interest with the paper. Budgetary and management issues have also reportedly led to turmoil at the Post. “The Post can do better,” Swisher told Axios. “It’s so maddening to see what’s happening.” A banker has been helping her come up with a plan to recruit a board of civic-minded investors who want to help increase revenues and re-energize the newsroom.

...........SNIP"

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Kara Swisher Wants to Take The Washington Post Off Jeff Bezos' Hands (Original Post) applegrove 23 hrs ago OP
A good start RussBLib 22 hrs ago #1
Time to buy some lottery tickets and get in on the action. NoMoreRepugs 22 hrs ago #2
Or maybe a gofundme...I think millions of dems and independents would love to have a REAL newspaper PortTack 20 hrs ago #3
This is the best news I've heard in a long time MadameButterfly 20 hrs ago #4
Or, since I don't really see that happening, how about MadameButterfly 19 hrs ago #5
Hope it happens. Fla Dem 12 hrs ago #6
I would re-subscribe the minute this deal went through Ruby the Liberal 3 hrs ago #7

RussBLib

(9,708 posts)
1. A good start
Fri Dec 20, 2024, 11:42 PM
22 hrs ago

...WaPo should expand to a full-fledged video news channel site. Just being a newspaper, even online, is a bit old-fashioned.

It could happen.

https://russblib.blogspot.com/?m=1

PortTack

(34,822 posts)
3. Or maybe a gofundme...I think millions of dems and independents would love to have a REAL newspaper
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 01:36 AM
20 hrs ago

MadameButterfly

(1,911 posts)
4. This is the best news I've heard in a long time
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 02:17 AM
20 hrs ago

But they'd better do it fast before Elon and Trump decide to quash any deal.
Bezos might not really want the paper but his overlords won't want it in anyone elses hands.

MadameButterfly

(1,911 posts)
5. Or, since I don't really see that happening, how about
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 02:57 AM
19 hrs ago

they hire the WaPo staff, buy a building and a lot of equipment...i'm sure you'll tell me too expensive and hard to rebuild all the subscriptions, connections, etc.

But I maintain that a historic newspaper is more than just a building and stuff. It's people: staff and subscribers. And I'm betting the staff don't want to work for a fascist. What if they are given an alternative? Could the new" buyers" hire the people who do subscriptions, advertise as the new WaPo, get MSNBC to help, like they have done with BlueSky?

If they gut WaPo, there might be equipment available at firesale prices? How fast could Jeff hire replacement staff? Maybe quickly if he isn't picky and throws money at it. But who will subscribe? Current subscribers want the historic newspaper; that means its current staff (or maybe it's historic staff, but that contains some of the remaining staff, certainly not the new people Bezos would hire).

We have to be this kind of creative to survive Trump 2.0.
Brilliant that someone is raising money to buy WaPo. But don't take no for an answer. Write them a ransom note. "If you don't sell we will replace you"

Ruby the Liberal

(26,329 posts)
7. I would re-subscribe the minute this deal went through
Sat Dec 21, 2024, 06:43 PM
3 hrs ago

Cautiously optimistic that it won't go sideways.

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