Ezra Klein, an analyst and pundit for the Washington Post, is leaving the paper, where he created Wonkblog. He will be starting his own news media venture, although no details of his plans have been revealed.
The news was confirmed in an internal memo Tuesday, reports the New York Times. Klein also confirmed the news on Twitter. The memo said that he is “looking to start his own news organization.” A source told the Times that Friday was his last day at the paper.
Melissa Bell, the Post’s director of platforms, and writer Dylan Matthews are also leaving the Post. Matthews also wrote for Wonkblog and created the Know More blog.
Klein began with the Post in 2009 and quickly rose in Washington media circles, thanks to Wonkblog. The blog is dedicated to statistics and the inner-workings of politics in the U.S. His departure isn’t a surprise, notes Mashable, as the Times had reported earlier this month that he was proposing an expansion to Wonkblog. However, Amazon founder and current Post owner Jeff Bezos declined to support the venture.
Thanks to the @WashingtonPost for five incredible years. An amazing newsroom and an amazing institution.
— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) January 21, 2014
It's true - @ezraklein, @MelissaBell, and I are off to a new thing. Thanks to everyone who's made the past four years at WaPo such a joy.
— Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt) January 21, 2014
Although Klein is gone, the Post’s economic policy correspondent, Jim Tankersley, tweeted that Wonkblog will live on.
Important programming note: @Wonkblog isn't going anywhere. #FF, and stay tuned for relaunch details.
— Jim Tankersley (@jimtankersley) January 21, 2014
image: Wikimedia Commons
