Sources (and people who want to “leak”) go to a publication with the most impact; opinion makers
and influencers seek the publication with the most sources and scoops — hence the “network effect” so coveted in technology circles, and one well understood by Mr. Bezos.
We’re at the point where the public realizes that and is willing to step up and support that work by buying subscriptions.”
He said digital subscriptions had soared this week in the wake of the latest Russia revelations, as they have with other scoops.
“That and only that are what people are willing to pay for.”
“They’re showing that a digital strategy is viable,” he said.
This year, he added, “we’ll have our third straight year of double-digit revenue growth.”
“I’m very, very surprised by those numbers,” he said.
David Fahrenthold won the Pulitzer Prize for national reporting this year for his series debunking President Trump’s claims to charitable contributions
and for the biggest bombshell of the presidential campaign: the revelation of the “Access Hollywood” recording in which Mr. Trump boasted of groping women.
“The most fundamental thing Jeff did was to change our strategy entirely,” Mr. Baron said.
Monday’s sensational headline — “Trump revealed highly classified information to Russian
diplomats in their Oval Office meeting last week” — was beyond interesting.
“The only future for newspapers is at the high end of quality journalism,” he said.
When I asked Mr. Baron to name one thing that has driven the turnaround, his immediate answer was Mr. Bezos — and not because of his vast fortune.