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Will Lewis, the CEO and publisher of The Washington Post, has made a surprising exit from the iconic newspaper shortly after it implemented significant job cuts, a move that stirred discontent among its readership. The newspaper, under the umbrella of Amazon’s billionaire founder Jeff Bezos, has been navigating the turbulent waters of the modern media landscape.
Despite the challenges faced by newspapers nationwide, Lewis’s leadership over the past two years attracted criticism from both subscribers and staff. His efforts to steer the publication away from financial troubles were met with mixed reactions.
The British executive has been succeeded by Jeff D’Onofrio. Previously at the helm of Tumblr, D’Onofrio joined The Washington Post as chief financial officer in June and will now step into the role of CEO and publisher, according to the publication’s announcement.
In a message to employees that surfaced on social media, Lewis expressed that the moment had come for him to move on, stating it was ‘the right time for me to step aside.’
Jeff Bezos released a brief statement noting that D’Onofrio would assume Lewis’s responsibilities ‘effective immediately.’
‘The Post has an essential journalistic mission and an extraordinary opportunity. Each and every day our readers give us a roadmap to success. The data tells us what is valuable and where to focus. Jeff, along with Matt and Adam, are positioned to lead The Post into an exciting and thriving next chapter.’
The sweeping cuts announced on Tuesday axed crucial reporting teams on the foreign, local and sports desks. All staff photographers were let go together with most of the video team.
The Post did not disclose the number of jobs being eliminated, but it’s believed 300 of its 800 journalists were laid off – close to a third of its staff.
The paper’s entire Middle East roster was let go as was its Kyiv-based Ukraine correspondent as the war with Russia grinds on.
Will Lewis abruptly stepped down as CEO and publisher of The Washington Post just days after sweeping layoffs rocked the newsroom
Lewis had led the Post for two turbulent years while attempting to reverse steep financial losses. In an email to staff he said that it was ‘the right time for me to step aside’
Jeff Bezos, who owns the Washington Post, faced criticism for intervening in editorial matters
The Amazon founder and Washington Post owner released a statement on Saturday evening
Sports, graphics and local news departments were sharply scaled back and the paper’s daily podcast, Post Reports, was suspended.
Hundreds turned out Thursday at a protest in front of the paper’s headquarters in downtown Washington, DC.
Newspapers across the country have cratered under falling revenues and subscriptions as they compete for eyeballs with social media, and as internet revenue pales in comparison to what print advertising once commanded.
However, national papers like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal have managed to weather the storm and come out financially solid, something the Post, even with a billionaire backer, has failed to do.
In Lewis’s note to staff, shared on X by White House bureau chief Matt Viser, Lewis said ‘difficult decisions have been taken’ during his tenure ‘in order to ensure the sustainable future of The Post so it can for many years ahead publish high-quality nonpartisan news.’
Lewis’ tenure has been rocky from the start, marked by layoffs and a failed reorganization plan that led to the departure of former top editor Sally Buzbee.
Bezos, the world’s fifth richest man, and Lewis have come under scrutiny for intervening directly in the paper’s editorial processes.
Bezos reined in the newspaper’s liberal-leaning editorial page and at the last minute blocked an endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris days before the 2024 election breaking the so-called firewall of editorial independence.
Lewis defended the layoffs as ‘difficult decisions’ needed to ensure the paper’s long-term sustainability
The sweeping cuts announced on Tuesday axed crucial reporting teams on the foreign, local and sports desks. All staff photographers were let go together with most of the video team
A protester holds a cutout of Jeff Bezos’ face outside of the Washington Post office following a mass layoff, on Thursday, in Washington
Protesters outside of the Washington Post office demonstrate following mass layoff, Thursday
Protesters outside of the Washington Post office demonstrate following a mass layoffs
He was widely seen as bowing to Trump with subsequent changes turning the editorial pages in a more conservative direction.
It sent 250,000 digital subscribers dumping the Post with the paper losing around $100 million in 2024 as advertising and subscriptions as revenues fell.
Marty Baron, the Post’s executive editor until 2021, said that the job cuts ranked ‘among the darkest days in the history of one of the world’s greatest news organizations.’
On Friday, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the investigative journalists best known for uncovering the Watergate scandal, which led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974, both spoke out.
Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the famous Washington Post reporters who uncovered Watergate, spoke about about the paper’s decision to slash jobs
250,000 digital subscribers dumped the Post with the paper losing around $100 million in 2024 as advertising and subscriptions as revenues fell when it decided not to endorse Kamala Harris
Woodward did not mention Bezos by name and appeared to look on the positive side.
‘Under Executive Editor Matt Murray there have been many superb and excellent ground-breaking stories. There will be more. I will do everything in my power to help make sure The Washington Post thrives and survives.’
But Bernstein admonished Bezos repeatedly.
‘Today’s owner of the Washington Post is one of the five richest people. His responsibilities ought to be, above all, to enlarge those journalistic and democratic possibilities: and not, as we have witnessed this past year at Jeff Bezos’ Washington Post, to curtail or demean them.’