The Washington Post faced another upheaval as their newly hired editor, Robert Winnett, decided to withdraw from the position before even starting. This decision came after reports surfaced questioning Winnett’s ethical compass, especially regarding his previous work in England. The CEO and publisher of The Post, Will Lewis, announced Winnett’s withdrawal and mentioned that a replacement would be searched for immediately. The Post had been going through a reorganization plan that had faced challenges, with former executive editor Sally Buzbee leaving rather than taking on a demotion to lead a revenue-enhancement effort.
The issues regarding Winnett and Lewis’s ethical standards stemmed from their work in England, where they were involved in stories that raised questions about the sources of their information. The New York Times reported that some of the stories seemed to be based on fraudulently-obtained phone and business records, which caused a stir in The Post’s newsroom. This led to Pulitzer Prize winner David Maraniss expressing concerns about the situation, stating that the staff did not believe Lewis and Winnett could continue in their roles. The staff’s main concern was integrity, not resistance to change, as they questioned the leadership’s ability to maintain journalistic standards.
Will Lewis had been brought in earlier in the year to help stop the costly exodus of readers from The Post. The newspaper had reported a loss of $77 million the previous year, prompting billionaire owner Jeff Bezos to make significant changes. Bezos reassured key staff members that journalistic standards would remain intact, but also acknowledged the need for evolution and change in the rapidly evolving media landscape. Winnett’s sudden hiring without an extensive search had unsettled the staff, and it remains to be seen if Lewis can gain their support to continue in his role.
Lewis announced that the recruitment firm would handle the search for Winnett’s replacement, as the reorganization efforts at The Post would continue, albeit delayed. The plan to set up a “third newsroom” focused on finding new ways for journalism to generate revenue would still move forward, with operations expected to begin early next year. Despite Winnett’s decision to stay in England and continue working at the Telegraph, Lewis expressed confidence in the future of The Post and its ability to adapt to the changing media landscape. Former Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan commented on the situation, indicating that Lewis might stay in his position for the time being, with Winnett’s withdrawal being seen as a compromise.
