The chief executive of the Washington Post is stepping down, the newspaper has announced, days after overseeing mass layoffs. Will Lewis said it was the right time to leave, mentioning that 'difficult decisions' had been made to ensure the paper's future. Just this Wednesday, the newspaper disclosed it would be cutting a third of its workforce, significantly diminishing its coverage of sports and international news.
This decision has been met with widespread condemnation from journalists and critics of the Post's billionaire owner, Jeff Bezos. Executive editor Matt Murray stated the cuts were necessary for 'stability.' Jeff D'Onofrio, who joined as CFO last year, will serve as acting publisher and CEO following Lewis's departure.
Lewis, who previously held leadership roles at Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal, was appointed to lead the Washington Post in 2023. His tenure has faced backlash from both subscribers and employees as he worked to reverse the newspaper's financial losses. The recent layoffs sparked protests outside the Post's headquarters, where hundreds demonstrated against the cuts that included axing the newspaper's entire Middle East staff and its correspondents in Ukraine.
Marty Baron, former executive editor until 2021, described these layoffs as among 'the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations.' The Washington Post has been navigating a tumultuous period marked by multiple staff reductions and controversial editorial decisions under Bezos, who acquired the outlet in 2013. With the upcoming 2024 US presidential election on the horizon, Bezos recently broke tradition by announcing that the Post would not endorse a presidential candidate—prompting criticism and subscriber losses.
Lewis' departure is seen as another chapter in the evolving narrative of a storied newspaper grappling with contemporary challenges in the media landscape.
This decision has been met with widespread condemnation from journalists and critics of the Post's billionaire owner, Jeff Bezos. Executive editor Matt Murray stated the cuts were necessary for 'stability.' Jeff D'Onofrio, who joined as CFO last year, will serve as acting publisher and CEO following Lewis's departure.
Lewis, who previously held leadership roles at Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal, was appointed to lead the Washington Post in 2023. His tenure has faced backlash from both subscribers and employees as he worked to reverse the newspaper's financial losses. The recent layoffs sparked protests outside the Post's headquarters, where hundreds demonstrated against the cuts that included axing the newspaper's entire Middle East staff and its correspondents in Ukraine.
Marty Baron, former executive editor until 2021, described these layoffs as among 'the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations.' The Washington Post has been navigating a tumultuous period marked by multiple staff reductions and controversial editorial decisions under Bezos, who acquired the outlet in 2013. With the upcoming 2024 US presidential election on the horizon, Bezos recently broke tradition by announcing that the Post would not endorse a presidential candidate—prompting criticism and subscriber losses.
Lewis' departure is seen as another chapter in the evolving narrative of a storied newspaper grappling with contemporary challenges in the media landscape.
