Fox News articles can now be listened to! Please note that the following column was originally published on OutKick. During my freshman year at George Washington University, I made it a habit to read the front page of the Washington Post every day. However, the front page that January day in 1998 was truly groundbreaking. It was revealed that President Bill Clinton was being accused of having an affair with Monica Lewinsky, a former intern. This moment stands out as one of the last times, if not the very last time, that I witnessed news breaking on the front page of a newspaper. Although the internet was gaining popularity in 1998, news mainly broke on television or in newspapers. The internet still faced credibility issues, which is why the Drudge Report’s coverage of the Lewinsky scandal a few days before didn’t have the impact it would have today.
From that point onwards, the Washington Post dedicated extensive coverage to the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal over the next several years. As a college student who subscribed to the Post and read it daily, it felt like the newspaper was not holding back in its reporting on the Clinton impeachment drama. The Washington Post broke numerous news stories on the incident, and it remained a regular feature on the front page of the newspaper throughout my college years.
Recently, I’ve been reflecting on this because we’ve witnessed three major bombshell revelations about President Joe Biden in the past few days. Firstly, two IRS whistleblowers testified under oath that Hunter Biden received special treatment and protection from serious felony charges through a sweetheart deal facilitated by his father’s justice department. Secondly, an FBI agent testified under oath that the FBI was aware of the authenticity of the Hunter Biden laptop when the story broke in the New York Post in October 2020. However, they chose not to confirm its veracity to major social media companies, leading to the censoring of an important news story in the weeks leading up to the election. Thirdly, an FBI informant reported that Joe and Hunter Biden each received $5 million to aid a Ukrainian oil company, Burisma, while Joe Biden was vice president. Their involvement included securing the firing of a Ukrainian prosecutor, among other activities.
Putting aside politics, let’s examine the reporting by The Washington Post. Regardless of your political stance (I’ll disclose that I volunteered on Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign in 1996 as a high school student and voted for Donald Trump in 2020), which accusation do you believe deserves more rigorous investigation? That a president had a sexual encounter with an intern and later lied about it, or that a president potentially made millions of dollars from foreign businesses while advocating for their interests during his time in office, protected his son from consequences, and had the FBI shield him and his son from scrutiny over a laptop? The recent allegations against Joe Biden far outweigh the accusations against Bill Clinton during his presidency. Yet, if you are a current subscriber to the Washington Post, you may not have come across a single article about Biden’s troubles this month.
How did we arrive at this point? How did the Washington Post, which was willing to potentially bring down Bill Clinton’s presidency over a sexual encounter in the Oval Office just 25 years ago, now show little interest in covering the more serious allegations against President Joe Biden? I have a theory that sheds light on many of the issues we see in American politics today. As someone who was a subscriber to the Washington Post at 18 and still remains one to this day, I often ponder how we have reached the current state of American media.
My theory revolves around the shift from a business model primarily reliant on advertisers to one primarily fueled by subscribers. In the past 25 years, we have experienced this transition. In 1998 and during the 1970s when the Washington Post’s Watergate stories exposed Richard Nixon, the goal of a newspaper was to attract as many readers as possible. This would subsequently raise ad rates, as newspapers essentially serve as a means to deliver advertisements to your doorstep. During my college years, the Washington Post only cost a quarter on newsstands. Even then, the paper was eager to distribute its product to college students like me, as it ultimately increased their readership.
Fast forward to today, and the landscape has changed dramatically. With the rise of digital platforms, newspapers are now striving for a different kind of success. The focus has shifted towards securing loyal subscribers rather than simply pursuing high readership numbers to attract advertisers. As a result, the incentives have changed. The Washington Post, as well as other outlets, may prioritize catering to the expectations and preferences of their subscribers over pursuing impactful news stories that may generate controversy or challenge their readers’ beliefs.
As someone deeply invested in the world of media, it is no surprise that I eventually founded my own media company, OutKick, which is now owned by Fox. I consider myself both a critic and a lover of newspapers, recognizing the vital role they play in holding the powerful accountable in our country.
Considering all of this, it is crucial to reflect on the transformation that newspapers have undergone in the past 25 years. While some may argue that the Washington Post and other outlets have become less bold in their coverage, we must acknowledge that the shift in their business models may be influencing their editorial decisions. Nonetheless, newspapers remain a valuable source of information, offering a serendipitous experience that digital algorithms often lack. Personally, I cherish the thrill of stumbling upon unexpected stories while flipping through the pages of a print newspaper.
In conclusion, understanding the changes in the media landscape helps explain why the Washington Post may have fervently pursued Bill Clinton’s presidency over a sexual encounter but seemingly ignored the more serious allegations against President Joe Biden. The transition from an advertiser-driven model to a subscriber-driven one has shifted newspaper priorities and may impact their coverage of important stories. Nevertheless, newspapers continue to have a crucial role in keeping the powerful accountable, which is why I maintain my admiration for them despite the evolving media landscape.
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