The Washington Post Writers Group

The Washington Post Writers Group (WPWG), a division of The Washington Post News Service & Syndicate, is a press syndication service distributing opinion columnists, breaking news, podcasts and video journalism, lifestyle content, and graphics and data visualizations. The service is operated by The Washington Post.^[1]

The Washington Post Writers Group

Type	Syndication
Industry	Media
Founded	1973; 50 years ago (1973)
Headquarters	Washington, D. C. , United States
Area served	United States
Services	opinion journalists, editorial cartoonists, comic strips, and columnists
Owner	The Washington Post
Parent	The Washington Post News Service & Syndicate
Divisions	The Washington Post News Service with Bloomberg News
Website

History

The Washington Post Writers Group formed in 1973.^[2]

In 2009, the Post dissolved its relationship with the Los Angeles Times (see the Los Angeles Times–Washington Post News Service) and joined with Bloomberg News to form The Washington Post News Service with Bloomberg News, which provided up to 150 national and international stories plus photos and graphics.^[3][4]

In 2013 the Writers Group was providing syndicated columns, editorial cartoons, features, and comic strips to newspapers, magazines, and other subscribers globally.^[2]

The Washington Post Writers Group wound down distributing editorial cartoons and comic strips starting in early 2022;^[5][6][7] announcing it would finish out any existing contracts.^[8] In response, a number of strips left for other syndicates.^[8] In addition, a group of the syndicate's editorial cartoonists — including Clay Bennett, Jack Ohman, and Pedro X. Molina — left for Nick Anderson's Counterpoint Media, which launched its own syndication service.^[8]

Writers

Writers syndicated by the group include Eugene Robinson, Kathleen Parker, E. J. Dionne, George Will, and Ruth Marcus. The late Charles Krauthammer was also a syndicate member.

Comic strips

The syndicate began distributing comic strips in the early 1970s;^[8] its first notable strip was Berkeley Breathed's Bloom County. Long-running strips distributed by the service included Brian Crane's Pickles (1990–2022),^[8] Dave Blazek's Loose Parts (1991–2022),^[8] and Darrin Bell's strips Rudy Park (2001–2018) and Candorville (2003–2022).^[7]

Current comic strips

As of April 2023^[update] the Washington Post was syndicating:^[1]

• Fort Knox by Paul Jon Boscacci (launched in 2009)
• Reply All and Reply All Lite by Donna A. Lewis (launched February 28, 2011)^[9]

Comic strips formerly distributed

• 12:01 by Thomas Boldt (May 1999–c. 1999)^[10]
• Barney & Clyde by Gene Weingarten, Dan Weingarten, and David Clark (2010–2023; moved to Counterpoint Media)^[11]
• Bloom County by Berkeley Breathed (1980–1989)
• Candorville by Darrin Bell (2003–2022; moved to King Features Syndicate)^[7]
• Home and Away by Steve Sicula (2003–2015)
• Little Dog Lost by Steve Boreman (March 26, 2007–July 24, 2016)
• Loose Parts by Dave Blazek (September 25, 2014–May 31, 2022;^[12] moved to Andrews McMeel Syndication)^[8] — originally acquired from Tribune Media Services (which had acquired it from the Los Angeles Times Syndicate)^[12]
• Middle Ages by Ron Jaudon (January 7, 1985–December 10, 1985)^[13]
• Mike du Jour by Mike Lester (2012–2022; moved to Andrews McMeel)^[14]
• Out of the Gene Pool / Single and Looking by Matt Janz (2001–2008)
• Outland by Berkeley Breathed (1989-1995)
• Opus by Berkeley Breathed (2003–2008)
• Pickles by Brian Crane (1990–2022; moved to Andrews McMeel)^[8]
• Red and Rover by Brian Basset (2000–2010; moved to Universal Uclick/Andrews McMeel, where it continues to the present)
• Rudy Park by Darrin Bell (c. 2011–2018; acquired from United Features Syndicate, where it launched in 2001)
• Safe Havens by Bill Holbrook (1988–1992; moved to King Features Syndicate, where it continues to the present)
• Stitches by Jeff Danziger (April 1997–c. 1998)
• Watch Your Head by Cory Thomas (2006–2014)

See also

• Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service

References

1. "Content". WP Licensing and Syndication. April 25, 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
2. . Washington Post – Washington Post Writers Group. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
3. Carr, David (2009-09-27). "To Cover World, CBS Joins With a News Site". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
4. Boorstin, Julia (Oct 2, 2009). "Washington Post, Bloomberg Partner for Syndicated News". CNBC.
5. Degg, D.D. (February 20, 2022). "The Washington Post Writers Group Syndicate is "Winding Down Its Syndicated Cartoon Service"". The Daily Cartoonist. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
6. Degg, D.D. (April 13, 2022). "Pickles and Loose Parts moves to Andrews McMeel". The Daily Cartoonist. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
7. Degg, D.D. (November 30, 2022). "Darrin Bell takes Candorville to King Features". The Daily Cartoonist. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
8. Tornoe, Rob (June 16, 2022). "New syndication options for illustrators: Syndicates facilitate ongoing opportunity for creators of comics and puzzles". Editor & Publisher. ...which has distributed dozens of comic strips and editorial cartoons since the early 1970s.
9. "A Comic Life: Donna Lewis '86," UMBC Magazine (Jan. 31, 2011).
10. Holtz, Allan. "Mystery Strips of E&P Special Edition," Stripper's Guide (Jan. 7, 2014).
11. Degg, D. D. (May 13, 2023). "Barney & Clyde and Counterpoint". The Daily Cartoonist.
12. Degg, D. D. (June 1, 2022). "Loose Parts Changes Syndicates (Again)". The Daily Cartoonist.
13. Holtz, Allan. "Obscurity of the Day: Middle Ages," Stripper's Guide (Feb. 25, 2014).
14. Degg, D. D. (July 29, 2022). "Mike Lester Moves Mike du Jour to Andrews McMeel". The Daily Cartoonist.

External links

• Official website