Washington Post ombudsman Patrick Pexton wants more hard-hitting reporting after he highlighted the Post’s “putting its energy into non-journalism ventures” like “online marketplace” website Service Alley and coupon/discount website the Capitol Deal.
As Pexton explained, the efforts may help the company make money, but there is “less energy and enthusiasm” toward journalism for the Post.
Pexton questioned the Post’s journalism future and plan. He advised the newspaper not to cater to “the rich,” but instead produce “high-quality, probing Washington news” for “the citizenry” and all Americans.”
He also called on the newspaper to avoid being partisan and to focus on being “hard-hitting, scrappy and questioning.”