Robert Allbritton, the billionaire media entrepreneur and founder of Capitol News Company, has expressed both concern and opportunity following the Washington Post's significant newsroom layoffs in early February. While he described the cuts as "pained," he views them as a chance to recruit top-tier journalists who were previously difficult to attract.
Notus Announces Major Hiring Spree
On Monday, Allbritton's digital publication Notus, which stands for News of the United States, revealed several high-profile hires from the Washington Post. These include longtime political columnist Dana Milbank, Congress reporter Paul Kane, and chief economics correspondent Jeff Stein. The company aims to double its current staff of 50 people by the end of 2026, a move Allbritton said was "precipitated" by the Post's layoffs, accelerating Notus's existing growth plans.
Milbank's Perspective on the Move
In a post on X, Dana Milbank highlighted his excitement about joining Notus, subtly referencing Jeff Bezos's ownership of the Washington Post. Bezos, the fourth-richest person globally, has faced scrutiny for overseeing deep cuts at the newspaper. Milbank wrote, "For me, this is an irresistible chance both to create the hometown publication the DC region needs and to build a scrappy and fearless national news organization." He added that it feels wonderful to align with a "public-spirited media owner who uses his billions to support journalism above all else."
Notus's Strategic Focus
Allbritton emphasized that Notus will not attempt to replicate the Washington Post on a large scale. Instead, the goal is to cover "what the professional community of Washington is interested in," with a heavy focus on the federal government and related industries. He explained, "We don't want to be the Washington Post, but I think there's a place for the journalism of the Post and the mission of the Post without a lot of the legacy expenses that were necessary when your organization was a print-based organization."
Allbritton's Media Background and Investments
Allbritton, the son of successful banker-turned-media-owner Joe L Allbritton, co-founded Politico in 2006 with journalists Jim VandeHei and John F Harris. He sold Politico to German media conglomerate Axel Springer for over $1 billion in 2021. In April 2023, he launched the Allbritton Journalism Institute (AJI), a non-profit educational incubator training the next generation of political reporters. AJI operates a fellowship program where emerging journalists work with professionals and publish on Notus's website.
Future Plans and Financial Commitments
The publication's name, Notus, is set to change soon, with Allbritton working with trademark attorneys and hoping to include "Washington" in the new name. He committed $20 million to start the non-profit but declined to specify a budget for the Notus revamp, stating, "I think it just depends on who we can hire at this point in time. There is no minimum. There is no maximum." He also noted positive feedback from advertisers following Monday's personnel announcements.
Allbritton's View on the Washington Post's Future
While Jeff Bezos has not indicated openness to selling the Washington Post, despite reportedly receiving seven offers, Allbritton said he received calls suggesting he try to buy it. He recalled responding, "There's no way I'm doing that," citing concerns about the Post's recent newsroom cuts by a third and potential future reductions. He expressed worry that the Post is in a "weird position where it's like you can't really grow yourself out of it with revenue, and you can't really cut yourself out of it."
A Washington Post spokesperson commented, "We appreciate the contributions of our departing colleagues and wish them success in the next chapters of their careers."
