There’s an Old-School Newspaper War in Washington
Goldlaner.com – There s an old school newspaper rivalry taking shape in Washington at a moment when many American newsrooms are contracting. The Washington Post, a historic institution working through a difficult business reset, now faces a growing digital challenger: the Washington Sun, formerly known as NOTUS.
The competition echoes an earlier era of newspaper battles for scoops, subscribers and local relevance. While the platforms are different, the potential result is familiar: more original reporting, stronger coverage and better choices for readers following politics and everyday life in the capital.
The Washington Post Pursues Financial Stability
The Washington Post said it is moving closer to financial balance after years of losses, job cuts and retrenchment. A spokesperson said the company expects to finish 2026 nearer to profitability than it has been in five years.
“The Post is on track to break even, ending 2026 on its closest path to profitability in five years,” a spokesperson said.
The company also named Jeff D’Onofrio permanent publisher and chief executive officer. He had served in both positions on an interim basis since February, following former publisher Will Lewis. The Post said it had sold more than 300,000 individual subscriptions so far this year, without offering further detail about its projected break-even point.
D’Onofrio has described the effort as a long-term plan to preserve the Post’s journalistic mission while building a more durable business. The publication will celebrate its 150th anniversary next year, underscoring both its legacy and the need to adapt.
“News and Opinions are at our gravitational center, and our mission doesn’t change,” D’Onofrio said. “What will change is that we will build a modern media company with new revenue streams that move us from breakeven to profitability, so we can reinvest in our journalism.”
The Washington Sun Expands Its Ambitions
Earlier the same day, NOTUS unveiled its new identity as the Washington Sun. Owned by Robert Allbritton, who previously founded Politico, the outlet is expanding in Washington and aiming to become more than another national politics publication.
Editor Tim Grieve characterized the rebrand as part of a broader shift in the city’s media landscape. “Washington journalism is in a moment of generational change,” Grieve wrote. “We’re rising to meet it.”
There s an old school dynamic in the way the Sun is growing: it has hired aggressively during upheaval at the Post, which eliminated hundreds of jobs earlier this year, roughly one-third of its staff. The Atlantic and The New York Times have also recruited former Post journalists.
The Sun is also developing coverage intended to serve distinct audiences. It will publish forecasts using the Capital Weather Gang brand, long associated with the Post, and plans to emphasize local sports after the Post closed its sports desk earlier this year.
A Rivalry That Could Help Readers
The two newsrooms remain very different in scale. The Post has about 500 newsroom employees despite its layoffs, while the Sun has approximately 110. That gives the Post a much broader reporting operation and greater capacity for investigations, exclusive reporting and coverage across many beats.
Still, a smaller competitor does not need to duplicate every part of a larger newsroom to have an impact. There s an old school lesson in Washington’s renewed rivalry: when outlets compete seriously for readers’ trust, they have stronger reasons to deliver useful, distinctive journalism.
Washington News FAQ
What is the Washington Sun? The Washington Sun is the new name for NOTUS, a digital news outlet owned by Robert Allbritton that is expanding its Washington coverage.
Is the Washington Sun connected to the Baltimore Sun? No. The Washington Sun and the Baltimore Sun are separate publications serving different markets.
Why does this competition matter for Washington readers? More competition can produce more reporting choices on national politics, local weather, sports and issues affecting the Washington region.
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