An Open Letter to The Washington Post

October 10, 2024

Dear Editors of The Washington Post,

I write today with deep concern over your recent article, penned by Brianna Sacks, which sensationalizes the aftermath of Hurricane Milton and unfairly targets Florida's insurance industry.

It seems The Washington Post once renowned for its journalistic integrity, is now more focused on driving clicks than delivering balanced, informative reporting—particularly when the public most needs clarity and support.

As someone who has watched Floridians suffer through back-to-back hurricanes, it is troubling to see your paper exploit this crisis for a narrative that borders on tabloid-style journalism.

By jumping on the 60 Minutes bandwagon and painting the insurance industry as inherently corrupt, your publication has chosen to fan the flames of fear rather than offer a meaningful examination of the complex issues facing disaster recovery and the insurance market in Florida.

In 2014, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein—journalists who defined a generation of investigative reporting—offered a critique that rings truer today than ever.

They warned of the dangers of journalism “that emphasizes speed and quantity over accuracy, depth, and fairness.”

Sadly, this is the very path The Washington Post has chosen in its coverage of Hurricane Milton.

The implication that insurance carriers are systematically defrauding homeowners when they are at their most vulnerable is not only reckless, but it also ignores the significant financial strain these companies face as they help rebuild storm-ravaged communities.

Your article overlooks a crucial fact: Florida’s insurance market is already teetering on the brink of collapse due to overregulation, rampant litigation, and fraudulent claims.

Instead of working toward solutions that benefit both homeowners and insurers, your paper chose to demonize an entire industry based on a few bad actors, feeding into a narrative of corporate greed that does little to advance meaningful discussion.

Where is the acknowledgment of the thousands of professionals working around the clock to process claims and ensure Floridians can rebuild their homes?

Where is the exploration of the difficult balance between consumer protection and the sustainability of an industry that is vital to recovery efforts?

This is not the responsible journalism we have come to expect from The Washington Post. Rather, it is sensationalism, pure and simple, at a time when Floridians need solutions—not scapegoats.

As Woodward and Bernstein also cautioned, "the best journalism should serve the public interest, not the public’s appetite for entertainment or outrage." It’s time for your paper to return to that standard, to the kind of integrity that helped make your name synonymous with truth and accountability—not panic and drama.

Sincerely,

Chaz Galloway