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readerjim's review
4.0
Generally, spending time reading about an infantile ex-president doesn’t make an enjoyable time. However, Marty Baron’s book is an insider look at the Washington Post, its owner Jeff Bezos, and its coverage over the last ten years.
Well written account supporting journalism’s goal, educating the public despite its leaders.
Well written account supporting journalism’s goal, educating the public despite its leaders.
kielewyote's review
4.0
Well-written and a good look at WaPo during the Trump years (although at this point I’m tired of hearing about those years).
sugarsiege's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
The latter half of this book devolves into a mess of centrist handwringing and meandering overcompensation. At some points, important concepts and informative insights ring through, but not so strongly as in the first 10-12 chapters. Additionally, the author seems unable to separate his relationship with Bezos-which significantly blurs the lines between personal and professional despite Baron's seeming inability to recognize as such-from the CEO's position of power in the US economy and politics. Baron states the admirable position of reluctance to trust politicians, yet has a rose-tinted admiration and explicit faith in a man with more wealth than a large portion of Americans combined.
brookemaarie's review against another edition
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
I really enjoyed this! It started off a little slow, but as someone really interested in the First Amendment and news organizations from a legal perspective, I was intrigued to read about it from the editor’s point of view. I also generally have a pretty negative opinion of Amazon / Jeff Bezos, but this made me see him in a (slightly) more favorable light.
commander's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
Well written review of tfg's first term, POV: The Washington Post. A page turner, for sure.
tryder_99's review
4.0
An extremely interesting perspective of the Washington Post and the media’s battles during the Trump Presidency
adkwriter15's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Let me start by saying that I enjoyed this book. Baron's writing style is concise and engaging, and I always wanted to keep going to learn more. Baron has been at the helm of newspapers during so many important moments - from being in Miami during the 2000 recount to being portrayed in the movie "Spotlight" during his time at the Boston Globe. He has a lot of knowledge to share, and a wide perspective. The details of how all that changed, evolved, and shifted with the changes to print media along with the Trump presidency were very interesting.
That being said, I do thing the title is misleading. It opens with the scene of Post editors at the White House, and makes a clear point that Trump was messing with Bezos/Amazon more than I realized, but this is more an autobiography of Baron's time at the Post where Trump and Bezos happen to also be involved. The epilogue is entirely about Baron's take on journalistic ethics - not simply because of the attack on truth, but more because of discontent in the Post's newsroom (which seems to have driven him to retire) about what objectivity means in journalism. That was also very fascinating to think about, although I am not and never had been a reporter, and is probably a deeply important conversation to have. Just know that this book is more about the collision of journalism with modern day issues rather than the collision of Trump and Bezos, and you'll be more set up for enjoyment.
That being said, I do thing the title is misleading. It opens with the scene of Post editors at the White House, and makes a clear point that Trump was messing with Bezos/Amazon more than I realized, but this is more an autobiography of Baron's time at the Post where Trump and Bezos happen to also be involved. The epilogue is entirely about Baron's take on journalistic ethics - not simply because of the attack on truth, but more because of discontent in the Post's newsroom (which seems to have driven him to retire) about what objectivity means in journalism. That was also very fascinating to think about, although I am not and never had been a reporter, and is probably a deeply important conversation to have. Just know that this book is more about the collision of journalism with modern day issues rather than the collision of Trump and Bezos, and you'll be more set up for enjoyment.