My parents first subscribed to the Washington Post in 1970, when we moved to what is now known colloquially as “the DMV.” As a ten year-old boy growing-up in Rockville, I started out reading the comics, Parade magazine, and, of course, the TV guide. When I was 12, the Post began its investigative reporting into the break-in at DNC headquarters in the Watergate complex. I slowly began reading the national and international news sections, and before long I was hooked. I have been a regular reader for more than 50 years. Thankfully, “the paper” entered the virtual world about the same time my job took me overseas, so I never had to do without the Post’s balanced, comprehensive, and tightly written reporting. As an aside, my first paid job was as a Washington Post delivery boy (sic) in the early 1970s. I have had an aversion to starting work before sunrise ever since. I do not believe that any American can consider himself or herself “well-informed” without reading the Washington Post and/or the New York Times (preferably both) every day. Yes, both outlets are a degree or two left of center when it comes to the news they choose to highlight, but an intelligent reader knows this and can discount it when necessary. None of the center-right outlets, with the intermittent exception of the Wall Street Journal, is on the same journalistic level as the Post or the NYT.

There are issues. First, it randomly switches, constantly between black pages with white lettering and white pages with black lettering. Why can’t they let me choose instead of trying to guess and constantly distracting me while I am trying to read? Second, it likes to launch me into some kind of built in web browser that claims I am not logged in. I tried getting help, but they told me I had to upgrade my iPad iOS to a version that hadn’t been released for my device yet. Third, it doesn’t let you go back one day even. So let’s say I open the app and initially I see a whole page of juicy article titles! But then I am not allowed to read any of them unless I can quickly memorize their titles. Why? Because it always forces an update as soon as you open it, so you have to wait while it tantalizes you and them changes all the titles. To see yesterday’s stories, you have to go search for them. By title usually. That is SO annoying. Fourth, they have some really amazing but graphically intense articles. But there is no way to turn off the pictures in them. So if you’re in a place with slow internet (2G), you can’t even read the text, just because you can’t download all the graphics.The journalism is good enough that I keep putting up with this app. I still recommend it but I wish they’d hire programmers who understand that their customers are not all reading on brand new devices running on super high speed internet. I often give up and have to go read on a computer or use Safari.

Update post:Attacking worker rights, no surprise here, as his editorial pages cry out to remove hard won rights for a voice in the workplace. And he is choosing to attack front running Democratic officials to attempt to appease the dictator in the White House. People who party and celebrate in Venice and fire their workers, take away local news, sports coverage because he claims to be losing money should realize—maybe he does—that Democracy Dies in Darkness. Previously ”The Washington Post Owner, Jeff Bezos, has spread darkness on the pages of the Post and our nation through his decision to not allow the Washington Post to endorse a candidate for President. His decision to not support Kamala Harris is in fact an endorsement of the convicted, dishonest, and increasingly deranged Republican candidate. The lame excuse of reaching back in time to when the Post did not routinely endorse candidates is a red herring. Bezos is afraid that he will not be seen favorably by Republicans. He is giving journalism, democracy and his readers his raised middle finger with this act of cowardice. My response will be to cancel my subscription to the Post. Back ‘atcha Jeff!”

The other day I noticed on a couple media bias graphs that the WP was dead center with the highest amount of original content. As someone who doesn’t fit in either political party I have been longing for a news source that works hard to see both sides, like I do. So, when I saw the graphs I decided to order a subscription at a promo price that seemed generous. The first two days I read as much as I could and seemed to be getting what I had hoped for. Then yesterday I opened the app and was dismayed at what I saw yesterday. Four out of the six featured pieces were obviously left leaning on the issues of state rights, abortion, and the use of presidential power (9/5/21). Were the other two right leaning to at least attempt to give a little balance? No, they were not. They were about items that didn’t have a political impact. I’m going to give the Post a couple more weeks to try to prove me wrong on this, but I’m not all that hopeful. Has the news media swung so far left in general that the Post just looks centrist by comparison?I love the way the app is arranged. But I do have a complaint about the search feature. I searched for articles on Indonesia and got several hits from a couple of weeks ago. When I attempted to click on the links the only place they sent me was back to the front page of the current day.