Washington Post Fires Karen Attiah, Sparking Concerns
Karen Attiah, a longtime opinion journalist and the Washington Post’s last Black full‑time female opinion writer, was fired after social‑media posts the paper said violated its policy; the move (reported Oct. 2, 2025) prompted national advocacy groups — including the National Association of Black Journalists and the Washington Association of Black Journalists — to warn the dismissal could chill diverse voices, and Attiah says she will challenge the decision in court. NABJ leaders met with Executive Editor Matt Murray seeking assurances about newsroom diversity and retention following the termination.
🔍 Key Facts
- Karen Attiah — former founding global opinion editor and 11‑year Washington Post staffer — was dismissed after posts on Bluesky about violent white men in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing.
- Attiah was described as the Post’s last Black full‑time opinion writer; NABJ and WABJ issued statements calling the firing alarming and held a meeting with Post leadership.
- Attiah announced plans to dispute the firing in court; The Washington Post declined to comment to the AP on the termination.
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
"An opinion piece criticizing media and institutional overreactions (notably firings like the Washington Post's dismissal) in the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination, arguing that the punitive climate chills speech and makes the author decline TV appearances."