Rachel Sadon

Director of newsroom planning and project development @washingtonpost. Formerly @wamu885 @dcist @wapoexpress

[Jacob Fenston @JacobFenston]

Since 2020, @DCist and @wamu885 have been one newsroom. DCist was the digital home for WAMU stories. In locking the public out of the DCist site, WAMU is erasing WAMU's own work. Can you imagine the Washington Post erasing the past 4 years of its own reporting?

[Charles Allen @charlesallen]

The sheer amount of local history, local voices, and local story telling from DCist reporting that would be lost harms the entire DC community. The DCist archive should remain public & accessible as a valued part of DC history. #UnlockDCist

[Robert McCartney @McCartneyWP]

It is outrageous that @wamu885 and @AmericanU have shut down the DCist story archive. Yesterday I went to look up a DCist article on bike trails to research my next @MWCOG podcast, only to find it wasn’t available. Shame on WAMU and AU. @SylviaBurwell . @WeMakeWAMU

[Alex Koma @AlexKomaDC]

Just an hour ago, I reflexively Googled the (extremely thorough) explainer on Secure DC that Jenny published just days before WAMU/AU shut DCist down, only to find it inaccessible.

What a waste of a badly needed local resource. Kinda seems like they should #UnlockDCist

[Rachel Sadon @Rachel_Sadon]

Pretty incredible that @AmericanU is letting this go on. Besides the long list of moral reasons, who wants to attend the journalism school of a place that demonstrably places no value on years of local news? @AU_SOC

[Brianne K. Nadeau @BrianneKNadeau]

DCist's contribution to the historical record and insight into DC politics, arts, culture and more should not be bulldozed. I hope WAMU will bring the archive back into the light. #UnlockDCist

[Martin Austermuhle @maustermuhle]

Last week the Nevada Independent also had to lay off reporters. But this is how the outlet’s leaders talked about it. Notice a difference to what @wamu885 did and said? https://t.co/mq4ZdOmAo8

[Scott Detrow @scottdetrow]

And I would add to that it covers local news REALLY WELL in a city where many other outlets just don't. Pivoting away from day-to-day news and toward the fuzzy idea of more bespoke podcasts and events doesn't serve the public radio mission we ask listeners to fund.

[Rachel Sadon @Rachel_Sadon]

This.

[Martin Austermuhle @maustermuhle]

A day later, I am still astounded at how WAMU's leadership failed to articulate a strategic vision, dramatically demolished staff morale, holed themselves away, and then fired 15 people and killed a popular website – and dares to sell it as some brave media pivot.

[Rachel Sadon @Rachel_Sadon]

@jasonshevrin You're right that WNYC funded the whole original purchase with major help from a donor (two if I remember correctly)

[Rachel Sadon @Rachel_Sadon]

@jasonshevrin They acquired the whole thing first, then WAMU paid WNYC just to take on DCist

[Rachel Sadon @Rachel_Sadon]

The media industry faces real, incredibly difficult headwinds. But that's not the crux of this story. This is a case of atrocious leadership -- a truly extraordinary lack of knowledge, savvy, and strategy that can't be overstated and clearly isn't changing any time soon.

[Natalie Delgadillo @ndelgadillo07]

After years of working under current WAMU leadership, today’s decision deeply saddens and infuriates me, but it does not surprise me. It’s been clear for a long time now that executives at the station do not truly care about local news and deeply misunderstand digital journalism.

[Rachel Sadon @Rachel_Sadon]

@FenitN Stunning! Congratulations!

[Rachel Sadon @Rachel_Sadon]

@SashaAnnSimons @wamu885 @DCist Aw Sasha, thank you so much ❤️❤️❤️

[Rachel Sadon @Rachel_Sadon]

Today is my last day at @wamu885 and @DCist. It has been an honor to lead this extraordinary team of journalists, whose tenacity, thoughtfulness, compassion, and dedication to doing this work has inspired me every day.

[Rachel Sadon @Rachel_Sadon]

@rkaufman Congratulations!!!!

[Rachel Sadon @Rachel_Sadon]

@margaretbarthel Thank you, so much, for this Margaret. Your good opinion and well wishes truly mean the world. ❤️

[Rachel Sadon @Rachel_Sadon]

@kpagekirby @WaPoExpress Aw Kristen, thank you!!!

[Rachel Sadon @Rachel_Sadon]

@PaulGuinnessy Thank you!

[Rachel Sadon @Rachel_Sadon]

@juliezweil Thank you so much Julie. Absolutely loving your coverage :)

[Rachel Sadon @Rachel_Sadon]

@prgirlindc Thank you!!!