Cash-strapped Washington Post threw $1M brunch at ritzy DC venue during White House Correspondents' Dinner weekend: report
The Washington Post is facing fresh employee outrage after reportedly spending more than $1 million on a brunch at a high-end venue that charges $100,000 just to get in the door — despite the fact that the paper has imposed layoffs as it lost a reported $100 million last year.
The Jeff Bezos-owned left-leaning broadsheet hosted an extravagant Sunday brunch at Ned's Club, a private venue with sweeping views of the White House and Washington monuments, according to the Status newsletter.
Guests who were in town for the weekend to mark the White House Correspondents' Dinner were treated to lavish food spreads, including generous helpings of caviar, in a display that far exceeded typical WHCD weekend budgets, Status reported.
6 The Washington Post reportedly spent lavishly on a Sunday brunch over the weekend to mark the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
Christopher Sadowski
Ned's Club in Washington, DC, is an elite members-only social club located near the White House, offering opulent dining and exclusive access to its top-tier clientele.
Membership starts at $5,000 annually with a $5,000 initiation fee, but the Founders tier requires a staggering $125,000 initiation fee and $25,000 in yearly dues.
Dining at the club is equally lavish, with dishes like a $195 bone-in ribeye and caviar service starting at $150, underscoring the club's ultra-exclusive status among Washington's elite.
While media outlets often spend between $200,000 and $300,000 on related events, the Washington Post's seven-figure tab was well outside the norm, according to the report.
6 The newspaper owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos lost $100 million last year. Bezos is seen right with his fiancée Lauren Sánchez.
WWD via Getty Images
The event has fueled growing unease inside the newsroom, where employees have been warned repeatedly about the need for belt-tightening measures, Status reported.
Inside the newsroom, morale has hit a low point, with many staffers reportedly expressing frustration over what they see as mixed signals from management.
While they are asked to accept budget cuts, hiring freezes, and the elimination of certain newsroom initiatives, leadership has simultaneously greenlit high-profile, high-cost events like the WHCD brunch, according to Status.
6 Ned's Club in Washington, DC, is an elite members-only social club located near the White House.
The Washington Post via Getty Images
A Washington Post spokesperson told The New York Post that the newspaper has a 'larger strategic partnership' with Ned's Club and that the brunch was designed to showcase the publication and its journalists for clients as part of its efforts toward 'modernizing' its events programming.
The spokesperson declined to confirm the reported $1 million price tag.
The Washington Post has been mired in financial difficulties over the past year, struggling with steep revenue losses and declining readership.
6 Membership starts at $5,000 annually with a $5,000 initiation fee, but the Founders tier requires a staggering $125,000 initiation fee and $25,000 in yearly dues.
The Washington Post via Getty Images
In late 2023, the paper revealed it had lost more than $100 million, prompting aggressive cost-cutting initiatives, including a major round of layoffs.
In January, management culled nearly 100 jobs — constituting around 4% of 021the workforce.
In early 2024, the paper eliminated approximately 240 positions, about 10% of its workforce, citing the need to realign with the harsh realities of the digital news economy.
6 Dining at the club is equally lavish, with dishes like a $195 bone-in ribeye and caviar service starting at $150, underscoring the club's ultra-exclusive status among Washington's elite.
The Washington Post via Getty Images
The financial turmoil has coincided with a wave of high-profile departures from the newsroom. Longtime executive editor Sally Buzbee stepped down last year amid reported tensions with CEO Will Lewis and concerns about the paper's editorial direction.
In the fall, Bezos intervened to spike his editorial board's planned endorsement of then-Vice President Kamala Harris — a move which prompted tens of thousands of readers to cancel their subscriptions.
Bezos earlier this year also moved to overhaul the left-leaning editorial page, which led to the resignation of its top editor.
6 Prominent mainstream journalists from outlets such as CNN gathered at the Washington Hilton for the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday.
AFP via Getty Images
Several Washington Post staffers resigned in protest over what they perceived as Bezos showing favoritism toward President Trump.
Bezos, the founder of Amazon who remains the company's largest shareholder despite stepping down from the CEO position in 2021, received a phone call from Trump on Tuesday after it was reported that the e-commerce giant was thinking of including a line item highlighting a new tariff surcharge.
After the phone call, Amazon announced that it was considering the move but that it ultimately decided against it.
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