In a significant turn of events for The Washington Post, publisher Will Lewis announced his resignation on Saturday, merely three days after the acclaimed newspaper declared it would lay off approximately one-third of its workforce. In an email sent to staff, Lewis indicated that 'difficult decisions have been taken in order to ensure the sustainable future of The Post.' Notably, both Lewis and Jeff Bezos, the billionaire owner of the newspaper, did not attend the meeting where the layoffs were announced.
Lewis took on the role of publisher in January 2024 after previously serving as a leading executive at The Wall Street Journal. His time at The Post has been challenging, characterized by job cuts and a controversial reorganization that resulted in the exit of former top editor Sally Buzbee.
The Post's new acting publisher and CEO, Jeff D’Onofrio, joined the company only last June and now faces a steep hill to navigate the fallout from the layoffs. Under Lewis’ leadership, the newspaper lost tens of thousands of subscribers, exacerbated by a contentious decision during the presidential campaign that saw the Post retract an anticipated endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris and shift its editorial stance to a more conservative angle.
The recent layoffs were deeper than many foresaw, leading to the closure of the Post’s well-regarded sports section and significant reductions in foreign and local coverage, along with staff cuts in photography. As The Washington Post embarks on a new chapter, questions loom large regarding its direction amidst intense industry challenges.
Lewis took on the role of publisher in January 2024 after previously serving as a leading executive at The Wall Street Journal. His time at The Post has been challenging, characterized by job cuts and a controversial reorganization that resulted in the exit of former top editor Sally Buzbee.
The Post's new acting publisher and CEO, Jeff D’Onofrio, joined the company only last June and now faces a steep hill to navigate the fallout from the layoffs. Under Lewis’ leadership, the newspaper lost tens of thousands of subscribers, exacerbated by a contentious decision during the presidential campaign that saw the Post retract an anticipated endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris and shift its editorial stance to a more conservative angle.
The recent layoffs were deeper than many foresaw, leading to the closure of the Post’s well-regarded sports section and significant reductions in foreign and local coverage, along with staff cuts in photography. As The Washington Post embarks on a new chapter, questions loom large regarding its direction amidst intense industry challenges.
