The Paradox of the Shrinking Premium Product: The Washington Post
I'mIt is a rare and frustrating business model to witness a company reduce its core product to the bare minimum while simultaneously tripling its price. For over twenty five years, my morning routine has included the print edition of The Washington Post. However, the value proposition that once made it indispensable is being dismantled piece by piece.
The list of what has been lost is long. We have seen the disappearance of the weekly magazine, the tech supplement, the Weekly Free for All, and the Style Invitational. Sections that once defined the paper's character, like Metro, Sports, and Style, have been compressed and combined. Now, news of international bureau closures and the end of the standalone Book section signals a retreat from the global stage. Even the Sports section, a pillar of any local paper, faces an uncertain future despite executive reassurances.
The primary reason for staying has always been the reporters. Supporting high quality journalism is a value I hold dearly, but that resolve weakens as the newsroom is hollowed out. In contrast, smaller investments in specialized outlets like The Information, NPR, WAMU 88.5, and TWiT.tv are delivering high density value. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal remains a steady and dependable benchmark for what a daily news product can still be.
While digital newsletters allow for a curated news digest, they cannot replace the institutional trust built by veteran reporters over decades. As those voices depart, the justification for a premium subscription fee becomes harder to find. Loyalty is a two way street, and right now, the road at 1301 K Street feels increasingly like a one way exit.
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