The chief executive of the Washington Post, Will Lewis, has announced his resignation just days after orchestrating mass layoffs that dramatically reduced the newspaper’s workforce by a third and scaled back its international news coverage. In a message shared with staff, Lewis cited the necessity of difficult decisions to secure the future of the publication. The decision to lay off workers, including the entire Middle East desk and its correspondent based in Kyiv, has attracted widespread condemnation from journalists and the public alike.
Lewis's tenure at the Post has seen challenges as he sought to reverse financial declines, a mission complicated by the cuts and diminished scope of coverage. Jeff D'Onofrio, who stepped in as chief financial officer last year, will now serve as the interim publisher and CEO. The cuts prompted protests outside the Post’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., with many viewing these layoffs as a step into a darker chapter for the media organization.
Critics, including former Post executive editor Marty Baron, characterized the layoffs as amongst the darkest days for one of the world’s prominent news outlets. In the wake of friction experienced under the management of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who acquired the Post in 2013, as well as the recent decision not to endorse a presidential candidate for the first time in decades, this resignation underlines ongoing turmoil within the paper. Lewis, who was appointed to lead in 2023, faced backlash over his attempts to stabilize an organization grappling with financial burdens and shifting editorial strategies.
Lewis's tenure at the Post has seen challenges as he sought to reverse financial declines, a mission complicated by the cuts and diminished scope of coverage. Jeff D'Onofrio, who stepped in as chief financial officer last year, will now serve as the interim publisher and CEO. The cuts prompted protests outside the Post’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., with many viewing these layoffs as a step into a darker chapter for the media organization.
Critics, including former Post executive editor Marty Baron, characterized the layoffs as amongst the darkest days for one of the world’s prominent news outlets. In the wake of friction experienced under the management of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who acquired the Post in 2013, as well as the recent decision not to endorse a presidential candidate for the first time in decades, this resignation underlines ongoing turmoil within the paper. Lewis, who was appointed to lead in 2023, faced backlash over his attempts to stabilize an organization grappling with financial burdens and shifting editorial strategies.
