The Washington Post

The Washington Post is a prominent American daily newspaper based in Washington, D.C.

It is widely recognized as a "newspaper of record" for the United States. This means it is viewed as a highly reliable source for documenting important national events. The publication is a major force in the Washington metropolitan area. In 2023, the newspaper maintained 130,000 print subscribers and 2.5 million digital subscribers. This ranking placed it third among American newspapers, following The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. However, the print landscape is changing. In 2025, print subscriptions fell below 100,000 for the first time in 55 years.

The history of the paper began in 1877 when Stilson Hutchins founded it. In 1880, the paper introduced a Sunday edition. This made it the first newspaper in Washington, D.C., to publish seven days every week. Shortly after, in 1878, the publication purchased a competitor called The Washington Union. For a brief period, the newspaper operated under the name The Washington Post and Union. In 1889, the ownership shifted to Frank Hatton and Beriah Wilkins. To promote the paper, they commissioned John Philip Sousa to compose a march. The resulting piece, "The Washington Post," became a famous standard for the two-step dance.

The newspaper faced significant challenges during the early 20th century. Under the management of Edward "Ned" McLean, the paper struggled financially. McLean used resources to support his personal lifestyle and various political agendas. During the Red Summer of 1919, the paper published content that supported white mobs. This period of instability led the newspaper toward bankruptcy. A turning point arrived on June 1, 1933, when financier Eugene Meyer purchased the paper. He bought it at a bankruptcy auction for $825,000. Meyer successfully restored both the financial health and the professional reputation of the publication.

The Post became famous for its impactful investigative journalism during the mid-20th century. In 1971, the newspaper published the Pentagon Papers. This reporting helped increase opposition to the Vietnam War. Later, reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein investigated a break-in at the Democratic National Committee. This investigation uncovered the Watergate scandal. Their work played a major role in the 1974 resignation of President Richard Nixon. For these efforts, the newspaper earned a Pulitzer Prize in 1973. The paper has since won 76 Pulitzer Prizes, which is the second-highest number for any American newspaper.

Ownership of the company changed hands again in the 21st century. In October 2013, the Graham family sold the newspaper to Nash Holdings. Nash Holdings is a holding company owned by Jeff Bezos. This sale included various local publications and real estate. The former parent company, Graham Holdings, retained other assets like the education company Kaplan, Inc. Kaplan eventually became a primary source of income for the company, accounting for over 60% of its revenue by 2010. While Bezos owns the Post through Nash Holdings, the newspaper operates separately from his technology company, Amazon.

The Washington Post maintains a massive global presence through its various bureaus. While it focuses heavily on U.S. political news, it remains one of the few American papers with extensive foreign operations. As of 2021, the newspaper operated 21 foreign bureaus. These bureaus are located in cities such as Beijing, Berlin, Cairo, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. The paper also uses international breaking news hubs in London and Seoul to manage global information. Locally, the paper maintains bureaus across Maryland and Virginia. This structure allows the paper to cover both local community news and major international developments.

The physical presence of the newspaper has also evolved significantly. For many decades, the main office was located at 1150 15th Street NW. In 2013, Graham Holdings sold several properties, including the headquarters, for $159 million. Following this, the Post leased space at 1150 L Street NW. By May 2014, the newspaper moved into the west tower of One Franklin Square. This high-rise building is located at 1301 K Street NW in Washington, D.C. The transition from a traditional printing-focused business to a digital-heavy model reflects the broader changes in the global media industry.