Media News Daily: Top Stories for 02/27/2025

Jeff Bezos Reshapes Washington Post Opinion Section, Leading to Editor’s Resignation

Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos announced a shift in the paper’s opinion section to focus on “personal liberties and free markets,” a move that led to the resignation of editorial page editor David Shipley. Bezos argued that the internet now provides a broad range of viewpoints, eliminating the need for the Post to publish diverse opinions. The change signals Bezos’ increasing editorial influence, following past decisions like blocking an endorsement of then-Vice President Kamala Harris, which reportedly led to 250,000 canceled subscriptions. Some reporters criticized the shift, calling it an ideological realignment. Bezos defended the move as filling a gap in mainstream opinion journalism. (Read More – Politico Rating)

Trump Threatens Lawsuits Against Authors Using Anonymous Sources

President Donald Trump announced plans to sue authors and media outlets that publish books relying on anonymous sources, calling such practices defamatory. He also floated the idea of introducing new legislation to curb anonymous sourcing in political books. The announcement follows Trump’s criticism of a new book by journalist Michael Wolff, which portrays Trump’s allies and political maneuvering. The threat comes amid broader efforts by Trump’s administration to control media access, including changes to the White House press pool structure. (Read More – The Hill Rating)

White House Removes HuffPost from Press Pool, Restructures Media Access

The White House has removed HuffPost from the press pool, breaking with the long-standing precedent of allowing journalists to determine media access rather than the administration. The change follows the Trump administration’s recent decision to take direct control over selecting which outlets cover the president. While the White House says the move will allow more diverse voices access, critics argue it threatens press independence. Conservative outlets, including The Blaze and Newsmax, were added to the pool, while traditional wire services like The Associated Press saw reduced access. The White House Correspondents’ Association condemned the move as harmful to press freedom. (Read More – Politico Rating)