Two Papers Named ‘Star’ Will Duel in D.C. to Win Readers From The Washington Post
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- The Washington Star, a newspaper that ceased printing over 40 years ago, has been revived by media executive Dovid Efune, who also publishes The New York Sun.
- This revival comes shortly after the politics site NOTUS rebranded as The Star, both aiming to challenge The Washington Post's dominance in local news and sports coverage in Washington, D.C.
- The Washington Post, owned by Jeff Bezos, recently cut its staff by a third amid financial losses exceeding $100 million annually, reducing its metro and sports coverage.
- The original Washington Star was a conservative afternoon paper that operated for 128 years before shutting down in 1981, with The Washington Post acquiring its assets after bankruptcy.
- These developments signal a renewed newspaper rivalry in the capital during a difficult period for the media industry, which is facing declining search traffic and struggles to grow paid subscriptions.