One of the most intriguing discussions surrounding media bias involves the expectations people have of local newspapers in relation to the sports teams they cover. Historically, this relationship has often been adversarial and has led to significant reporting when local teams face challenges. However, when teams succeed, newspapers typically seek to participate in that moment, a scenario that is currently playing out with The Washington Post and the NFL’s Washington Commanders. As reported by Andrew Beaujon from the Washingtonian on Saturday, the newspaper began illuminating its building’s spires in burgundy in anticipation of the Commanders’ NFC Championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles and will fully light it in burgundy and gold, showcasing the team’s “Raise Hail” slogan, if they win, incorporating that into its print products:
The Washington Post plans to light its DC headquarters in burgundy and gold and project the team’s “Raise Hail” slogan on the building’s façade if the Washington Commanders beat the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. It began to light the spires of the building in burgundy on Friday night, a Post spokesperson tells Washingtonian.
The aspirational display is part of a package of efforts the Post plans to make on behalf of the team, whose popularity in the DC area has been rejuvenated since unpopular owner Dan Snyder sold the team to a group led by Josh Harris in 2023. The team has embarked on an improbable, thrilling run to Sunday’s NFC Championship game, whose winner will go to the Super Bowl. Sunday’s print paper will include a page with a timeline of Sports section front pages from this season and a “Raise Hail” poster.
This is in line with a recent initiative from the paper to offer a collection of its season of Commanders’ postgame sports pages for purchase, as Post digital sports editor Dan Steinberg highlighted this week:
HEY THIS IS COOL we are now selling Commanders 2025 Sports Pages Collection featuring all 19 postgame sports fronts. Each page is 12.5″ x 22″ printed on 100# gloss text. Click on “Commanders” here https://t.co/taldQ4Z7cz?
— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) January 23, 2025
However, not everyone is on board with this approach. Veteran media reporter Paul Farhi, who worked at the paper for 35 years before taking a buyout in December 2023, voiced skepticism on social media, questioning whether news organizations should act as fanboys and why this celebration is occurring only if the team wins:
Should news organizations be fanboys? And if so, shouldn’t they be fanboys *before* the big game? The Washington Post Will Light Its Building in Burgundy and Gold If the Commanders Win. https://t.co/e8w3Nav5SU
— Paul Farhi (@farhip) January 25, 2025
This criticism is noteworthy given Farhi’s background. In May 2024, he overcame an unpaid suspension related to a tweet about the paper’s editorial decisions during a crisis in Ukraine. His work has predominantly focused on national and international news rather than sports, underscoring how not all voices within the media agree on this approach.
Notably, the Post has supplied crucial coverage of the Commanders’ controversies under Dan Snyder’s ownership, including his complicated sale to Josh Harris. Although there have not been similar scandals during Harris’ first year, it is surprising to see the Post light its building in team colors, particularly since this action deviates from past practices. Lighting the building may be more of a business and marketing initiative than a sentiment from the sports department, aligning with precedents of special commemorative fronts for team championships.
Nevertheless, this lighting decision stands out compared to typical commemorative content—a stark contrast to typical initiatives seen in arenas or other public spaces. While this move does not necessarily reflect the Post‘s journalistic integrity regarding team coverage, it raises questions about the paper’s relationship with the local team and what the readership desires. The Post has not traditionally been seen as a supporter of the team, and while this initiative may cater to local sentiment, it presents an intriguing shift in the newspaper’s positioning.
