United States of America

Washington Post CEO Resigns After Laying Off 300 Journalists

Did Lewis destroy the Post through incompetence or make tough decisions necessary for its survival?

Published FEB 9

Washington Post CEO Resigns After Laying Off 300 Journalists

Story

Above: Will Lewis in London, U.K., on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. Image credit: Carlotta Cardana/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Facts

Will Lewis resigned as CEO and publisher of The Washington Post on Saturday, just days after the newspaper laid off approximately 300 journalists, representing about one-third of its staff. Lewis stated that difficult decisions were made to ensure the sustainable future of the publication.
The Associated Press
The New York Times
FOX News
Jeff D'Onofrio, who joined The Washington Post as chief financial officer in June, was appointed acting publisher and CEO effective immediately following Lewis' departure. D'Onofrio previously served as CEO of Tumblr and held leadership positions at Google, Yahoo and Major League Baseball.
Axios
New York Post
The layoffs resulted in the reduction of The Washington Post's sports section, the elimination of its photography staff and sharp reductions in coverage of metropolitan Washington and overseas bureaus. The newspaper closed its entire Middle East staff and its Kyiv-based Ukraine correspondent position.
BBC News
Spectator (UK)
Lewis' tenure was marked by controversy from the start, including ethical questions raised about his actions while working in England and the abrupt resignation of executive editor Sally Buzbee in June 2024. Lewis did not participate in the Zoom call announcing Wednesday's layoffs.
The Associated Press
guardian
Sky News
The Washington Post Guild called Lewis' exit long overdue, stating his legacy would be the attempted destruction of a great American journalism institution. The union urged Jeff Bezos to rescind the layoffs or sell the paper to someone willing to invest in its future.
CNN
Business Insider
Jeff Bezos issued his first public statement since the layoffs, saying The Post has an essential journalistic mission and that readers provide a roadmap to success through data. Bezos did not mention Lewis in his statement and expressed confidence in the new leadership team.
PBS News
New York Post

Sources Split

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RIGHT

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ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Lewis destroyed a legendary institution through incompetence and cowardice, hiding from staff during brutal layoffs while partying at the Super Bowl. His catastrophic tenure gutted essential coverage, drove away top talent and left the newsroom in ruins. Bezos must reverse these devastating cuts or sell to someone who actually values journalism.

Washington Post Guild

Narrative B

Lewis made tough but necessary decisions to save the Post from financial collapse and ensure its long-term survival. The transformation focused resources on what readers actually want, using data to guide coverage priorities. The Post will continue this essential work to build a sustainable business model that preserves fearless journalism.

Business Insider

FOX News