An Open Letter Calling for the Washington Post to Publish Journalism Onchain
To the Editors and Readers of the Washington Post,
As Mr. Bezos, owner of the Washington Post, pointed out within his OpEd, Americans continue to lose faith in the news and journalism we rely on. It’s time we call for bold steps to address “the hard truth”.
I’m calling on the Washington Post and its stakeholders to lead an industry-wide commitment to transparency by undertaking the practice of publishing its news and archival materials on public blockchains. Such a system will guarantee these artifacts are publicly accessible, verified, and immune to outside manipulation. Publishing onchain is the ultimate act of accountability, one that could assist with the effort to restore trust in journalism for Americans nationwide.
Blockchain is an invention with impact beyond technology and financial innovation—it’s also the new printing press that will ensure free and independent journalism continues as a uniquely human pursuit. It provides a method to create immutable records of history preserved against tampering, a decentralized safeguard for facts and enduring citations of the people who coordinated to preserve truth.
Yet governments around the world are stifling its use and expansion. But the United States, with its bedrock First Amendment rights, is positioned to protect free speech and free press on this emerging frontier. As one of the most recognized media organizations, the Washington Post can lead the way in securing blockchain’s status as a First Amendment-protected medium by committing its reporting to the blockchain. If Mr. Bezos wants to face “hard truths,” this is where to start: a powerful commitment to protecting the first true publishing innovation since the printing press.
Publishing onchain isn’t just about transparency. It’s about setting a new standard, empowering media audiences, and reviving local news—especially in America’s expanding news deserts. With this approach, the Washington Post will establish the new foundation for public trust, showing local and independent journalists a clean model to replicate. This logical step could be the start of a bloodless revolution for the corporate media and a new path forward that adapts to the 21st century citizen’s information needs, apart from what has been.
So here’s the challenge: I urge the Washington Post—its editors, readers, and stakeholders—to embrace an onchain model that champions both free speech and transparency. Let’s see the Post lead this revolutionary shift to rebuild trust in journalism for America.
Sincerely,
Damon Peters
Founder, ImmutableType
@damon_peters
CC:
@JeffBezos
@washingtonpost