Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos has put out his first statement since the paper’s cuts. He said “data tells us what is valuable and where to focus.”
owner Jeff Bezos gave his first public statement since the paper enacted massive job cuts this week, and it focused on “data” and understanding reader interests.
The billionaire Amazon founder, who built one of the world’s most valuable companies with a relentless focus on customer satisfaction, indicated he wanted to see that same energy at the Post.
“The Post has an essential journalistic mission and an extraordinary opportunity”, Bezos wrote. “Each and every day our readers give us a roadmap to success. The data tells us what is valuable and where to focus.”
Bezos’ statement came as Post CEO Will Lewis announced he was stepping down, to be replaced in an interim capacity by Post CFO Jeff D’Onofrio.
In his own statement, D’Onofrio said that “customer data will drive our decisions, sharpening our edge in delivering what is most valuable to our audiences.”
Bezos and D’Onofrio’s statements struck a similar tone to comments made by the paper’s top editor, Matt Murray, in addressing staff earlier this week.
