The Washington Post, a leading newspaper in the US capital for decades, is cutting a third of its workforce on the instructions of owner Jeff Bezos. These layoffs impact all sections of the newsroom.

Executive Editor Matt Murray called the move “a strategic reset” needed for the paper to compete in the era of artificial intelligence. He said the changes were overdue due to “difficult and even disappointing realities.”

The layoffs will narrow the newspaper’s ambitions. The Post will shut down its sports desk, close the Books section, suspend the Post Reports podcast, and dramatically reduce the international desk. Some sports reporters will remain for feature stories.

The Metro section will be restructured to maintain a “healthy presence for local subscribers.” Staff on the Metro desk will drop from over 40 to about a dozen. Murray said the decisions are not about the quality of work.

The Post, privately owned by Bezos, has declined to share financial or subscription data. Bezos has stayed silent about the layoffs so far.

For 20 years, the newspaper defined itself as “For and About Washington,” covering local crime, politics, schools, traffic, weather, sports, arts, and restaurants. It also served a global audience of politicians, diplomats, and businesses.

Former Executive Editor Marty Baron called the layoffs “among the darkest days in the history of one of the world’s greatest news organizations,” warning that public access to fact-based reporting will be diminished.

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Baron said media struggles are widespread, but Bezos’ decisions, including canceling a presidential endorsement in 2024, worsened the paper’s situation and led to subscriber losses.

The Washington Post’s deep cuts reflect wider pressures on print media. Bezos is reshaping the paper for AI and financial sustainability. While necessary, the move may reduce local and international reporting and impact public access to trusted news.