The CEO and publisher of The Washington Post, Will Lewis, has stepped down with immediate effect, following recent job cuts at the newspaper. Despite challenging conditions faced by newspapers in the US, Lewis faced significant criticism from readers and staff for his management approach during his two-year tenure as he sought to address financial losses.
Lewis, who hails from England, has been succeeded by Jeff D’Onofrio, a former CEO of social media platform Tumblr who joined the Post as CFO last year. Lewis stated in an email to staff that it was the appropriate time for him to step down. The Post announced that D’Onofrio would take over immediately.
The recent job cuts at The Washington Post saw a substantial number of journalists, including those covering overseas, local news, and sports, being laid off. The exact number of job losses was not disclosed, but it was reported that around 300 out of 800 journalists were affected. Notably, the paper’s coverage in the Middle East and Ukraine was significantly impacted, and departments like sports, graphics, and local news were scaled back. The daily podcast, Post Reports, was also suspended.
The newspaper industry has been struggling with declining revenues and subscriptions, facing stiff competition from social media platforms. While national papers like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal have managed to remain financially stable, The Washington Post, despite being backed by a billionaire, has faced challenges.
In a note to staff, Lewis mentioned making tough decisions to ensure The Post’s sustainable future and maintain its commitment to delivering high-quality, unbiased news. Jeff Bezos, the paper’s owner, expressed optimism about the paper’s potential success and emphasized the importance of reader feedback in guiding their focus.
Both Bezos and Lewis have faced criticism for their involvement in editorial decisions at the paper. Bezos intervened to steer the newspaper away from endorsing Kamala Harris for president, a move that reportedly led to a significant loss of digital subscribers and revenue. Concerns have been raised about the implications of a weakened Washington Post on the ability of the press to hold the government accountable.
Former executive editor Marty Baron described the recent job cuts as a dark chapter in the history of The Washington Post, one of the world’s renowned news organizations.
