Will Lewis, the publisher of The Washington Post, announced his resignation on Saturday, marking the end of a turbulent leadership following the newspaper's recent announcement of major layoffs affecting one-third of its staff. In a brief email to the newspaper's employees, Lewis stated, "now is the right time for me to step aside," after two years of attempting to transform the publication. Jeff D’Onofrio, the Post’s chief financial officer, has been appointed as the temporary publisher.
Neither Lewis nor Jeff Bezos, the billionaire owner of The Washington Post, participated in a staff meeting held on Wednesday to discuss the layoffs, which were deeper than anticipated. This round of cutbacks led to the closure of the Post's acclaimed sports section, the reduction of its photography staff, and significant personnel cuts in both local and international coverage teams.
The staff reductions follow a trend of talent departures from the newspaper, exacerbated by a decline of tens of thousands of subscribers. This downturn was partly attributed to Bezos’s directive to retract a planned endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign, which also prompted a shift toward a more conservative stance in the opinion section.
In a poignant criticism, Martin Baron, the former editor of The Post under Bezos, lambasted his former employer for efforts to gain favor with former President Donald Trump, calling the situation "a case study in near-instant, self-inflicted brand destruction." Lewis, originally from Britain and previously a high-ranking official at The Wall Street Journal, took over at The Post in January 2024. His tenure has been fraught with challenges, including layoffs and a failed reorganization strategy that resulted in the resignation of former top editor Sally Buzbee.
Lewis's initial pick to succeed Buzbee, Robert Winnett, withdrew from consideration following ethical concerns surrounding their past actions in England, which included paying for information to create major stories—actions that raised significant ethical questions in American journalism. Shortly thereafter, Matt Murray assumed the role of executive editor.
Lewis’s interactions with Washington Post journalists were often controversial; during one staff meeting, he bluntly remarked on the need for changes due to insufficient readership. The recent layoffs have ignited calls within the organization for Bezos to either increase his involvement in The Post or sell it to someone committed to revitalizing the newspaper. In his farewell note, Lewis praised Bezos, describing him as "the institution could not have had a better owner.”
Lewis reflected, "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." In response to Lewis's departure, the Washington Post Guild, which represents the staff, claimed that his exit was long overdue, stating, "His legacy will be the attempted destruction of a great American journalism institution." The union urged Bezos to either reverse the layoffs or sell the paper to someone who would invest in its future.
In a response to the situation, Bezos did not acknowledge Lewis's resignation directly but stated that D’Onofrio and his team were poised to guide The Post into "an exciting and thriving next chapter." He emphasized the newspaper's essential journalistic mission and the opportunities available, adding that the daily feedback from readers provides a "roadmap to success."
As the organization grapples with these transitions, D’Onofrio acknowledged the challenges facing all media organizations and emphasized the need to adapt to changing industry conditions, expressing confidence that the team would navigate these challenges together.
