Leadership Change at The Washington Post: What CEO Will Lewis’s Departure Means for Investors and Media Businesses
Will Lewis Resigns as CEO and Publisher of The Washington Post Following Controversial Layoffs
Will Lewis, the beleaguered CEO and publisher of The Washington Post, has announced his resignation, a decision made public on Saturday. This news comes just days after the newspaper faced intense backlash for laying off over 300 journalists, accounting for approximately 30% of its workforce.
In his brief statement, Lewis conveyed that he stepped down to “ensure the sustainable future of The Post.” His email, which notably thanked only Jeff Bezos, the newspaper’s owner, did not acknowledge the journalists affected by the layoffs.
Lewis’s departure follows significant financial struggles for the publication, which recently executed substantial layoffs that severely impacted its local, international, and sports coverage. Veteran journalist Marty Baron described the layoffs as one of the “darkest days in the history of one of the world’s greatest news organizations.”
In a statement regarding Lewis’s resignation, Bezos emphasized the Post’s continuing journalistic mission and the opportunities ahead, stating, “Every day our readers give us a road map to success,” while neglecting to address the recent cost-cutting measures.
Jeff D’Onofrio, the Post’s chief financial officer, was appointed as acting CEO following Lewis’s exit.
The announcement of Lewis’s resignation was unexpected for many within the organization. Reports indicated he attended meetings on Wednesday without hinting at his departure. The subsequent day, he was seen at a Super Bowl event in San Francisco, a contrast highlighted by the layoffs that included the disbandment of the Post’s sports department, prompting outrage from current and former staff members.
News of the layoffs was delivered during a Zoom call by Matt Murray, the top editor of the newspaper, while Lewis did not participate.
Katie Mettler, a former chair of the Washington Post Guild, expressed her relief at Lewis’s departure, stating, “I wish it had happened before he fired all my friends.”
Lewis did not respond to inquiries for comment following his resignation.
Recruited by Bezos at the start of 2024 to reverse years of financial decline and dwindling audience numbers, Lewis had not succeeded in stabilizing the Post’s financial situation. His tenure featured various strategies, including the implementation of artificial intelligence and the launch of an opinion product called “Ripple,” alongside a lofty goal of acquiring 200 million paid subscribers—though the exact number of current subscribers remains undisclosed due to the company’s private status.
Formerly a reporter in the UK, Lewis had previously served as CEO of Dow Jones and publisher of The Wall Street Journal until his departure in 2020. His leadership at the Post recorded significant staff reductions following buyouts the previous year, contributing to widespread dissatisfaction within the newsroom. Additionally, concerns about his journalistic ethics arose as media outlets, including The Post, investigated his actions while at British newspapers.
In May 2024, Lewis unveiled a plan to create a third newsroom division focused on social media and service journalism, separate from the core political and business coverage. This initiative coincided with the abrupt resignation of executive editor Sally Buzbee and the hiring of two former colleagues in prominent editorial roles.
The New York Times reported that Buzbee and Lewis had clashed shortly before her exit, particularly regarding the Post’s coverage of a phone-hacking lawsuit implicating him and others. While Lewis has not faced charges, he denied allegations of attempting to suppress coverage of the case.
Following Buzbee’s departure, Lewis held a town hall meeting to introduce her successor, where he delivered a stark message to staff, stating, “People aren’t reading your stuff.” His comments unsettled many, and he had not addressed the newsroom in person since.
As tensions grew between Lewis and the newsroom, two former senior editors, Leonard Downie and Bob Kaiser, reached out to Bezos, advocating for Lewis’s removal. However, they did not receive a response.
Murray publicly acknowledged ongoing morale issues at the Post in a recent interview. “I think morale has been a challenge at the Post for a while,” he stated, reflecting on the persistent issues since his arrival in 2024.
Initially, Lewis sought to build rapport with Post journalists, even meeting with some individuals to discuss a positive outlook for the future. However, reports noted that after a promising conversation with political reporter Josh Dawsey, Lewis failed to maintain that engagement.
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