William Lewis, the new publisher and chief executive of The Washington Post, has allegedly tried to kill a story about his potential involvement in a UK phone hacking scandal coverup. This scandal, which involved right-wing media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s “News of the World” tabloid, resurfaced in a recent lawsuit filed by Prince Harry, Guy Ritchie, and Hugh Grant. Lewis, a senior executive at News Corporation at the time, has denied any wrongdoing. NPR reporter David Folkenflik reported that Lewis offered him an exclusive interview in exchange for not publishing the story about the allegations.
Despite Lewis’s attempts to suppress the story, NPR went ahead and published the article titled “New ‘Washington Post’ CEO accused of Murdoch tabloid hacking cover-up.” It included a photo of Lewis with Murdoch from 2011. This revelation came after reports that Lewis had clashed with former Post executive editor Sally Buzbee over a decision to publish an article in May that named him in connection to the hacking scandal. Buzbee felt pressured by Lewis over the story, which was deemed a lapse in judgment by Lewis.
As the judge in the UK hacking scandal case allowed allegations about Lewis to be included in the lawsuit, the Post published another story naming him. Shortly after, Buzbee abruptly departed the newspaper and was immediately replaced by former Wall Street Journal editor Matt Murray in a significant shakeup at the outlet. Lewis stated that Buzbee is an incredible leader and a talented media executive who will be missed. However, Buzbee did not offer a farewell note to staff, leaving the newsroom morale low.
Reports from anonymous Post staffers indicated plummeting morale in the newsroom following Buzbee’s departure and the reports about Lewis. This comes at a tumultuous time for the newspaper, as Lewis recently unveiled a plan to turn around the struggling company, disclosing that they had incurred a $77 million loss in the previous year and seen a 50% decrease in audience traffic since 2020. Lewis acknowledged that the company has been in a challenging situation for some time and emphasized the need for change.
The Washington Post did not comment immediately on the situation involving Lewis. The back-and-forth between Lewis, Buzbee, and the coverage of the hacking scandal highlights tensions within the newspaper’s leadership and editorial decisions. Lewis’s alleged attempts to suppress the story about his potential involvement in the scandal raise questions about transparency and ethical conduct within the organization. The sudden changes in leadership and the turmoil within the newsroom suggest a turbulent period for the renowned newspaper, with potential implications for its reputation and future direction.
