Will Lewis has resigned from his roles as publisher and CEO of The Washington Post in an abrupt leadership change that follows a recent wave of layoffs affecting a significant portion of the publication's employees. The staff cuts, implemented only days prior to his departure, impacted one-third of The Washington Post's workforce, including more than 300 newsroom journalists, and have generated considerable dissatisfaction within the organization.
Lewis communicated his departure in a brief message to The Washington Post staff, stating, "After two years of transformation at The Washington Post, now is the right time for me to step aside." He expressed gratitude towards Jeff Bezos, the owner, acknowledging his leadership and support during Lewis's tenure. Lewis further indicated that challenging decisions had been necessary to ensure the publication's sustainable future, aiming to maintain the delivery of high-quality and nonpartisan news to its broad readership.
Following Lewis’s resignation, Jeff D’Onofrio, the current CFO and former CEO of Tumblr who joined The Washington Post in June, was named acting publisher and CEO effective immediately. In a memo addressed to staff, D’Onofrio expressed honor at assuming leadership and emphasized guiding the publication toward a sustainable and successful future, with journalistic integrity as the primary focus.
Jeff Bezos issued a statement underlining the essential nature of The Washington Post's journalistic mission and highlighted the opportunity ahead. He mentioned that reader data provides clear insight into areas of value and focus for the business. Bezos also endorsed D’Onofrio alongside executive editor Matt Murray and Opinion editor Adam O’Neal as the leaders positioned to shepherd the publication into a "thriving next chapter." Notably, Lewis's departure announcement did not reference any ongoing role for him, underscoring the suddenness of the leadership transition.
Lewis’s relationship with the newsroom had been strained well before the layoffs, with staff expressing a lack of confidence in his ability to reverse the publication’s financial challenges. The atmosphere deteriorated during the recent layoffs, where Lewis's absence was conspicuous; he did not communicate with the staff during or immediately after the reductions and was reportedly seen attending a high-profile event unrelated to the newspaper, which exacerbated staff frustration.
Lewis's tenure, beginning in November 2023, was marked by controversy. Prior to joining The Washington Post, he served as publisher of The Wall Street Journal and held executive roles within Rupert Murdoch’s media holdings. Allegations emerged that Lewis was implicated in attempts to conceal aspects of the early-2010s phone-hacking scandal involving Murdoch-related tabloids in the UK. Lewis has denied these accusations.
Subsequent reports indicated Lewis tried to dissuade a major public radio outlet from publishing these allegations by offering an interview as a trade-off, and it was suggested he suppressed The Washington Post's own coverage of the issue, claims he has also denied. These incidents raised concerns within the Post’s newsroom regarding his professional ethics and editorial independence.
Compounding tensions, Lewis removed executive editor Sally Buzbee from her position, an action that further alienated newsroom personnel. Despite mostly reducing his visibility thereafter, Lewis focused on cultivating new advertising relationships and advocated a more entrepreneurial approach to the newspaper’s business model. He was believed to be the architect behind the extensive layoffs but refrained from direct communication with employees about these moves.
In response to inquiries during the layoffs, executive editor Matt Murray described Lewis's efforts to diversify revenue streams and develop experimental AI and product technologies as part of a strategy to adapt The Washington Post's business model. Murray acknowledged that while some initiatives had mixed results, an experimental mindset was necessary for the organization.
The Washington Post Guild, representing many newsroom staffers, stated that Will Lewis’s departure was long overdue and characterized his leadership period as attempted destruction of a significant American journalism institution. The Guild urged Jeff Bezos to reconsider the layoffs or transfer the newspaper to an owner willing to invest in its future.
This series of developments leaves The Washington Post at a pivotal moment, grappling with leadership changes, staff reductions, and questions about its strategic path forward. The appointment of Jeff D’Onofrio as acting CEO signals an immediate step toward stabilizing the organization, although the long-term implications for the newspaper’s viability and editorial mission remain to be seen.