Will Lewis Resigns as Publisher Amid Staff Cuts
Will Lewis, the Murdoch media veteran who assumed the role of publisher and chief executive of The Washington Post in early 2024, announced his sudden departure from the company on Saturday evening.
His resignation occurred just three days after The Post laid off nearly one-third of its entire staff, including over 300 journalists, in one of the largest layoffs in American media history. The newspaper cited the need to reduce costs and reposition the financially struggling publication. Lewis did not participate in the all-staff meeting where the layoffs were revealed and has faced criticism for both his absence and leadership during this period.
In an untitled email to Post employees obtained by , Lewis wrote,
“All – after two years of transformation at The Post, now is the right time for me to step aside. I want to thank Jeff Bezos for his support and leadership throughout my tenure as CEO and Publisher. The institution could not have a better owner.”
He further addressed the criticism he has received in recent days, including from many current employees, following the significant newsroom cuts.
“During my tenure, difficult decisions have been taken in order to ensure the sustainable future of The Post so it can for many years ahead publish high-quality nonpartisan news to millions of customers each day,” Lewis wrote, signing off: “With gratitude, Will.”
Interim Leadership and Industry Challenges
Jeff D’Onofrio, who joined The Post as chief financial officer in June, will assume the role of acting publisher and chief executive.
In a memo to staff, D’Onofrio acknowledged the difficulties facing media organizations, including The Post, and expressed confidence in the company’s ability to navigate these challenges.
“This is a challenging time across all media organizations, and The Post is unfortunately no exception,” D’Onofrio wrote. “I’ve had the privilege of helping chart the course of disrupters and cultural stalwarts alike. All faced economic headwinds in changing industry landscapes, and we rose to meet those moments. I have no doubt we will do just that, together.
“I’m honored to take the helm as acting Publisher and CEO to lead us into a sustainable, successful future with the strength of our journalism as our north star. I look forward to working shoulder to shoulder with all of you to make that happen.”
Jeff Bezos Comments on The Post’s Future
Jeff Bezos, owner of The Post since 2013 and recently criticized for his management of the publication, issued a statement praising the newspaper and its new leadership team without mentioning Lewis’s tenure.
“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,” Bezos said. “Jeff, along with [executive editor Matt Murray] and [opinion editor Adam O’Neal], are positioned to lead The Post into an exciting and thriving next chapter.”
Leadership Criticism and Internal Dynamics
During an interview last week, executive editor Matt Murray addressed questions about Lewis’s absence during the layoffs announcement.
“Look, Will has been engaged with me very closely on this for a long time,” Murray told Fox News. “And there were a lot of things that the company did and Will was engaged with all across the company, and I wasn’t. He had a lot of things to tend to today.”
Lewis also faced criticism for attending Super Bowl festivities despite The Post having significantly reduced its sports section, including layoffs of football writers.
Will Lewis’s Career Background
Lewis, 56, joined The Post following a long career with Rupert Murdoch’s media properties. He spent six years as CEO and publisher of the Wall Street Journal before departing in 2020.
He began his journalism career at the Financial Times and held positions as business editor at the Sunday Times and editor-in-chief of The Telegraph from 2005 to 2010. Subsequently, Lewis was appointed group general manager at News International.
Lewis played a significant role in managing the aftermath of the hacking scandal involving Murdoch’s UK media outlets, serving on the company-created management and standards committee overseeing interactions with police investigating the allegations. Upon joining The Post, Lewis stated he did not intend to discuss his involvement in the hacking scandal further.
Reactions from Current and Former Journalists
Some current and former Post journalists expressed relief at Lewis’s departure.
“Will can put on British charm and knows how to manage up but eventually results matter,” said Glenn Kessler, a former Post journalist critical of the paper’s leadership. “Every initiative he launched failed and he never found a way to boost readers for the Post.”
