Will Lewis, the Murdoch media veteran who became publisher and chief executive of the Washington Post in early 2024, has abruptly announced his departure. His resignation comes just three days after the newspaper laid off nearly one-third of its entire staff, including more than 300 journalists, in one of the largest rounds of cuts in American media history.
Lewis, who did not appear at the all-staff meeting during which the cuts were announced, faced criticism for his absence and leadership. In an email to staff, he thanked owner Jeff Bezos and said that after two years of transformation, it was the right time to step aside. He added that difficult decisions had been taken to ensure the Post's sustainable future, allowing it to continue publishing high-quality nonpartisan news.
Jeff D'Onofrio, who joined the Post as chief financial officer in June, will serve as acting publisher and chief executive. In a memo, D'Onofrio acknowledged the challenging time across media organisations and said the strength of the Post's journalism would be its north star. Bezos released a statement praising the Post and its new leadership team but did not address Lewis's tenure.
Lewis's departure was celebrated by some current and former Post journalists. He had also come under fire when a former sports reporter published a photo of him at the Super Bowl festivities even after the Post had largely dismantled its sports section. Executive editor Matt Murray had defended Lewis last week, saying he had been closely engaged in the restructuring.
The 56-year-old Lewis spent six years as chief executive and publisher of the Wall Street Journal before joining the Post. He began his career at the Financial Times and later edited the Sunday Times business section and the Telegraph. He was also involved in handling the aftermath of the phone-hacking scandal at Rupert Murdoch's UK newspapers.
