Eric Wemple Leaving Washington Post for New Role

On Wednesday, Eric Wemple announced via social media that he will be departing from the Washington Post after 14 years. He’s set to accept an offer for a new position at the New York Times, where he will focus on Washington media in the business section starting in September.

Wemple noted, “After 14 very happy years writing my opinions in the media for the Washington Post, I’m receiving a newspaper acquisition offer. In September I’ll start working with the New York Times, which covers Washington’s media in the paper business section.”

His time at the Washington Post wasn’t free of controversy. In 2016, Wemple faced criticism alongside other media figures for neglecting to cover racial purge cases tied to the paper, issues that carried significant legal implications. He opted not to report on those incidents.

Wemple also had a long-standing rivalry with Tucker Carlson, co-founder of the Daily Caller. Throughout Carlson’s time at Fox News, Wemple often criticized his reporting style and tactics. At one point, he took to social media to challenge The Atlantic’s portrayal of Carlson, arguing it was too favorable, suggesting instead that Carlson embodies an elitist mindset lacking empathy towards his liberal audience.

In 2018, Wemple published a story concerning a lawsuit involving Carlson and a former Daily Caller contributor, Evan Garr, which eventually concluded. In response to Wemple’s reporting, Carlson accused the Washington Post of disloyalty for omitting Garr’s mental health history. Wemple, in turn, dismissed Carlson’s claims on social media, suggesting that Carlson wouldn’t gain the respect he sought.