Why I left the Washington Post

I stopped writing my travel column after the paper abandoned its readers. Here's my story.

Maybe you heard about the dustup at the Washington Post this week. The newspaper’s owner, Jeff Bezos, decreed that the opinion section would only publish stories “defending personal liberties and the free market.” Its opinion editor resigned immediately and more are sure to follow.

I was the Post’s travel columnist for 15 years and although I left before the latest in a long line of scandals, I have my own story to tell. And I think you’ll want to read it because it could affect the news you read every day.

Before I get to it, I wanted to let you know that after hearing from many readers, and in view of this week’s troubling events in the journalism world, I’ve decided to extend our 50 percent discount on a new annual subscription.

If there’s ever been a time to support an independent media, it is now. Although I love personal liberties and a free market, there are many other ideas that are worth sharing with you — and your paid subscription gives me the ability to do that.

Here’s how to take advantage of this special offer.

“Do you want to write your last column?”

I started contributing to the Post in 2001, when the legendary opinion editor Fred Hiatt began publishing my travel commentaries.

“I like the way you write,” he told me. His praise meant the world to me as an up-and-coming consumer journalist.

A few years later, the Post’s travel editor asked me to pen a weekly column called the Navigator.

My editors trusted my judgment and encouraged me to pursue stories that helped readers. I returned their trust with loyalty, turning down multiple offers to move my column to another publication.

I loved being at the Post. I had the best readers, the best editors, and my columns won awards.

But journalism is in a constant state of change.

I remember the stunning email I got from my editor one afternoon in 2022. I was traveling through Europe with my sons at the time. The Post had decided to eliminate its travel section in a cost-cutting move and replace it with an online edition led by a less experienced, digital-first team of editors.

The travel editor, whose job was about to be eliminated, ended her email with an ominous question: “Do you want to write your last column?”

A duty to my readers

But I wasn’t ready to leave. Although I was loyal to my editors, I felt my real duty was to my readers. I didn’t want to abandon them, so I declined the offer to exit.

That was a mistake.

My new editor soon told me I could no longer choose my own column topics. All stories had to be approved by her. Just like that, the trust was gone.

And what did they consider a story worth writing? The only criteria, as far as I could tell, was getting clicks from Google.

So much for helping consumers.

It was a far cry from the days of Fred Hiatt, where I could pursue a column because it was important and valuable to readers.

It didn’t take long to conclude that I no longer needed to worry about abandoning my readers. The Post had already done that.

A few months after the Post killed its travel section, I filed my final column and wished the new editors well.

What this means for you

When I hear about the chaos at media organizations like the Washington Post, I understand what’s happening. I experienced the slow turn from a news organization that puts readers first, to a revenue-driven model.

I decided to side with you, the reader.

That’s why I created this Elliott Confidential. I want to continue advocating for you and writing the stories that matter.

So what does this media chaos mean? Can you trust anything you read anymore?

Here’s how I try to explain it: You used to be able to trust an organization to bring you unbiased, objective and useful news. But now, with many news organizations turning their backs on these time-honored principles, and many well-known journalists starting their own newsletters, it comes down to the person delivery the news — not the organization.

Can you trust what you read? Well, many news organizations remain committed to reporting facts but they also have an agenda. In the Post’s case, that’s never been clearer. It’s a right-leaning, revenue-first ideology that might leave a lot of deserving readers out in the cold.

Please support independent journalism

If I could have written a farewell column, I would have said this: I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve you. It has been an honor of a lifetime. And I will not stop fighting for you.

And that’s what this newsletter is all about.

Every story is written with you in mind. I investigate the latest consumer trends with a special emphasis on customer service and strategies for getting low prices on consumer products.

I tell the truth without fear or favor.

Other travel publications put themselves first. They write stories for search engines or create advertorials designed to sell credit cards.

Not this one. Elliott Confidential is all about you and it's all about helping you become the smartest traveler.

And now you know the story of how I left the Washington Post.

Thank you for your support.