NOTUS, a Washington political news website, will rebrand as The Star and relaunch June 1, expanding local news and sports coverage following The Washington Post's layoffs. Founded in 2023 with a $20 million grant from Robert Allbritton, the new outlet aims to fill gaps left by The Post’s reduced metro and sports reporting. Editor-in-chief Tim Grieve emphasized the need for a publication balancing “political Washington and ‘normal’ Washington,” as The Post cuts staff by 300 journalists.

The rebranding coincides with aggressive hiring: 45 staff will grow to 95 journalists by year-end, including ex-Post reporters like Jeff Stein (chief economics correspondent) and Dana Milbank (columnist). $30 million in funding from Allbritton will support operations, though Grieve confirmed annual budgets will reach “tens of millions,” relying on public affairs ads and future subscriptions. The name change reflects a strategy to broaden appeal beyond niche political coverage.

The Post’s job cuts, aimed at addressing $100 million annual losses, have reshaped Washington’s media landscape. Outlets like The Atlantic and The New York Times have poached Post journalists, while regional publications such as The Baltimore Banner and City Cast DC plan expansions. The Star’s model mirrors legacy Washington media but prioritizes hyperlocal reporting, a void critics argue The Post abandoned.

Allbritton’s involvement adds credibility: his father, Joe Allbritton, owned The Washington Star, a defunct 1981 daily. While Grieve avoided confirming financial specifics, he stressed Robert Allbritton’s “super committed” support during the transition. The Star’s success hinges on balancing public funding with sustainable revenue streams, a challenge amid declining print advertising and shifting reader habits.