The Washington Post kills off its "Democracy Dies In Darkness" slogan

Slogans are _usually_ just for branding anyways. However, “Democracy Dies in Darkness” is a riveting, iconic statement, and moving away from it is almost certainly weakening the existing brand significantly. I don’t think companies generally weaken their brand like this just because of new presidents, so I feel that this sacrifice actually does indicate a real change in the paper’s direction :&#x2F;.<p>Selfishly I’m sad that “Democracy Dies in Darkness” was perceived to be too liberal, it’s so grizzled and brooding, like something Rorschach from “Watchmen” would say. It was so cool.

A bit like Google removing their &quot;Don&#x27;t Be Evil&quot; motto

“Democracy drowns in dollars” seems sadly more accurate

Once people started realizing that it was an aspiration and not a warning, the slogan was on its last legs.

Responding to the additional context int he reporting:<p>If domestically-owned traditional journalism is not able to sustain itself in the US, I suppose that the more critically-minded people will turn to foreign-owned reporting like the traditional newswires like Reuters, AFP, AP for news, as well as new foreign state-funded ones like Al-Jazeera.

According to NYT there is a new mission statement, but the &quot;slogan&quot; isn&#x27;t changing:<p>&gt; After Donald J. Trump entered the White House in 2017, The Washington Post adopted a slogan that underscored the newspaper’s traditional role as a government watchdog: “Democracy Dies in Darkness.”<p>&gt; This week, as Mr. Trump prepares to re-enter the White House, the newspaper debuted a mission statement that evokes a more expansive view of The Post’s journalism, without death or darkness: “Riveting Storytelling for All of America.”<p>&gt; The statement is meant to be an internal rallying point for employees, according to two people with knowledge of the decision. Executives are not planning to replace its more strident public slogan. Suzi Watford, The Post’s chief strategy officer, has been previewing it to some employees this week.<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nytimes.com&#x2F;2025&#x2F;01&#x2F;16&#x2F;business&#x2F;media&#x2F;the-washington-post-new-mission.html?unlocked_article_code=1.pk4.N06W.Ggw2hDAVa7Xe&amp;smid=url-share" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nytimes.com&#x2F;2025&#x2F;01&#x2F;16&#x2F;business&#x2F;media&#x2F;the-washin...</a>

I have nothing against dark themes either

I take it this means it has moved to the obituaries?

Trump and his sleazy tech bros will go down in history as the gravediggers of democracy.

World is healing

&quot;Democracy, like mold, flourishes in darkness&quot;

the reason is simple - they lost

&gt; Donald Trump’s first term, and now, as he threatens the fabric of democracy once more,<p>The breathless hyperbole never ends.<p>&gt; That’s a little too much to bear.<p>You were fine the first 4 years you&#x27;ll be fine the next 4 years.<p>&gt; Instead, let’s focus on the fact that the paper’s new slogan is “Riveting Storytelling for All of America,” which specifically includes “conservatives”<p>Oh no! A diverse point of view. Let&#x27;s wring our hands throughout an entire article about a slogan change. :|

The only time they&#x27;ve been honest in years.

Of course they do, because it doesn&#x27;t. Democracy dies in broad daylight. It takes a bullet in the head like a mob hit in the center of town, and no one sees a damn thing.