Last spring, our Editorial Board criticized how Jeff Bezos’ ownership of The Washington Post threatened free journalism — specifically his censorship of the opinions section. Since then, over 300 Post journalists have been laid off in a February round of firings, highlighting the ever-growing threat facing American journalism.

While The Post claims that these layoffs stemmed from financial hardship, it’s difficult to believe that one of the richest men in the world couldn’t sacrifice a fraction of his billions to The Post if he truly valued journalism. The decision to cut more than 30 percent of The Post’s workforce reflects a growing devaluation of journalism in America, especially in international affairs and sports.

Silencing bold political journalists contradicts journalism’s legacy. In the past, journalism was valued for its disruptive, investigative spirit. Post Journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein were pivotal to the paper’s coverage of the Watergate scandal, which won The Post a Pulitzer Prize in 1973. Despite facing significant government and public backlash, The New York Times’ 1971 release of the Pentagon Papers, detailing secret bombings during the Vietnam War, allowed Americans to hold their leaders accountable and advocate for transparency. These are the values that journalism was built on, but not the ones it is barreling toward now.

Journalists at the Post covering international politics have been especially affected by layoffs, even those who have dedicated years of their lives to the paper. Francesca Ebel, The Post’s Moscow correspondent since 2022, was laid off while working on the Russian border with Ukraine. Earlier this year, Ebel spoke with soldiers at the border between Ukraine and Russia and published their rare testimonies in a front-page Post story. This work would not have been possible without years of building contacts and sources in Russia. Laying off experienced journalists like Ebel makes these established avenues for deeper, more investigative news disappear, leaving countless stories unreported.

Among the 300 Post journalists laid off were the entirety of the Post’s Middle East correspondents, many of whom were Pulitzer Prize finalists last year and credited with reporting on wartime atrocities in the Gaza Strip. Many of these journalists have been working in the Gaza Strip for years, bringing nuance and continuity to their writing that cannot be replicated. Firing these journalists when the Middle East continues to become the center of international conflicts feels like a deliberate attempt to reduce coverage of important wartime events.

The Posts’ layoffs also included the elimination of the sports section as a whole, as a majority of its 45 staff members were let go. Matt Murray, The Washington Post’s executive editor, told employees that several reporters would remain at the paper to cover sports as a “cultural and societal phenomenon.”

But the longstanding role of sports journalism in The Post’s sports section often extended beyond simple game coverage and into investigative reporting with real-world impact. It was coverage by The Post regarding the toxic organizational culture rife with allegations of sexual misconduct within the then Washington Redskins’ that helped set in motion the sale of the team in 2023 by former owner Dan Snyder in 2023.

Additionally, the rise of online news and AI has significantly impacted the art of journalism. Print journalism has been faltering for years, and now AI threatens to replace journalists who are already struggling to find work.

The New York Times dismantled its Sports Department in 2023, pivoting to online coverage through The Athletic. Beginning in 2019, the Associated Press began generating previews for NCAA Division I men’s basketball games with the assistance of “automation technology from Automated Insights,” a practice it still uses today. Beyond sports, a recent AI-generated Google news alert about the BAFTAs included a racial slur, an unforgivable mistake that would have easily been avoided if written by a human.

That is precisely where the value of journalism lies — in real people who cover real stories. Journalists define the human spirit, seeking to bring positive change to the world and give a voice to all people. Whether they cover international politics, sports or media, journalists’ work cannot be replaced.

But without the financial backing of a large publication, it is difficult to pursue investigative, breaking stories in both international politics and sports. Journalists need their publications to support them financially, but also need the credibility of a larger institution to gain access to certain locations, people and stories. The work journalists do is real and valuable, and treating journalists as disposable devalues the years of work it takes to build connections and write powerful stories.

If we continue to let billionaires and government leaders dictate large news publications, our population will become ignorant of corruption at home and atrocities worldwide. Publications must value and support their journalists despite external pressures, so that the American public can be informed, active members of society.

The power of journalism, especially investigative journalism, in inspiring change is well-established. Coverage of events like Vietnam and Watergate proves that an educated population will mobilize against corruption. Because of this, we must support journalists. We must keep journalism disruptive, valued and led by journalists, not billionaires.

The staff editorial solely represents the majority view of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board. It is the product of discussions at regular Editorial Board meetings.