The Washington Post Fires Its Last Black Opinion Columnist For Directly Quoting A Bigot
Summary
The Washington Post has dismissed Karen Attiah, the paper’s last Black opinion columnist and its founding Global Opinions editor, after she posted criticism on Bluesky that included directly quoting conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Post leadership labelled her social posts “gross misconduct” and “unacceptable Bluesky posts.”
The Techdirt piece frames the firing as symptomatic of broader problems at the Post under billionaire owner Jeff Bezos and CEO William Lewis — a move it describes as part of a trend of corporate media reshaping editorial voice to appease powerful interests and authoritarians.
Key Points
- Karen Attiah — a senior opinions editor and prominent Black voice at The Washington Post — was fired after quoting Charlie Kirk and criticising “white men” in social posts.
- The Post characterised Attiah’s posts as “gross misconduct”; she disputes the rationale and has published her account on Substack.
- Techdirt interprets the dismissal as evidence of the Post shifting under owner Jeff Bezos and leadership changes, prioritising corporate and political pressures over editorial independence.
- The article situates the incident within a wider collapse of mainstream corporate journalism and the rise of independent and direct-to-consumer media outlets.
- Techdirt argues the firing reflects larger battles over free speech, race, and media consolidation in the US.
Content Summary
The piece recounts the immediate facts of Attiah’s firing and the Post’s stated reasons, then broadens into a critique of the paper’s ownership and editorial direction. It links the action to a pattern of major media outlets responding to political and billionaire pressure by silencing dissenting voices, particularly those from marginalised communities.
Techdirt connects the dismissal to trends including subscriber losses at legacy outlets, consolidation of media ownership, and a shift toward safer, more corporate-friendly opinion pages. It also notes irony in Attiah publishing her account on Substack, a platform Techdirt has previously criticised.
Context and Relevance
This story matters because it touches on newsroom independence, representation in opinion pages, and how platform moderation and employer social-media policies intersect with journalists’ rights. The firing is positioned as part of a larger debate about whether major newsrooms will protect diverse voices when those voices criticise powerful figures or prevailing corporate priorities.
For readers tracking media integrity, press freedom and diversity in journalism, the case is a notable example of tensions between editorial staff and ownership, and the reputational consequences for legacy outlets attempting to navigate political headwinds.
Author style
Punchy — the author rails against billionaire influence and frames the firing as emblematic rather than isolated. If you care about press freedom and representation, the piece is written to amplify the urgency of reading the full background and primary sources.
Why should I read this?
Want the short version: a prominent Black opinions editor says she was sacked for calling out a right‑wing figure — and Techdirt says that’s proof legacy papers are bending to billionaire and partisan pressure. Read it if you care about who gets to speak in big newspapers and why that still matters.