In a surprising move, Washington Post publisher Will Lewis announced on Saturday that he is stepping down from his role, following the newspaper's recent decision to lay off one-third of its staff. This announcement comes just three days after the Post revealed significant layoffs that caught both employees and industry observers off guard.
In an internal email, Lewis remarked that difficult decisions have been taken in order to ensure the sustainable future of The Post. This statement underscores the challenges the publication faces as it attempts to navigate a rapidly changing media landscape. Notably, Lewis and the Post's billionaire owner, Jeff Bezos, did not attend a critical meeting with staff to discuss the layoffs, which may have exacerbated the tension within the organization.
In the wake of Lewis's departure, Jeff D’Onofrio, who joined the Post as chief financial officer last June, has been appointed as the acting publisher and CEO. Lewis, born in Britain and a former top executive at The Wall Street Journal, took over the reins at the Post in January 2024. However, his leadership has been turbulent, characterized by substantial layoffs and a reorganization that ultimately led to the exit of previous top editor Sally Buzbee.
The recent layoffs were not just a measure for cost-cutting; they also resulted in the shutdown of the Post’s renowned sports section and significant reductions in foreign and metro coverage. Furthermore, the newspaper lost tens of thousands of subscribers after Bezos's controversial decision to withdraw an anticipated endorsement of Kamala Harris during the last presidential campaign, followed by editorial changes that steered the publication in a more conservative direction.
As the Post undergoes this substantial transformation, the implications of these changes on its journalistic identity and subscriber relations remain to be seen.
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