New Washington Post CEO Will Lewis found himself in the midst of a controversy at the legacy newspaper after he announced a restructuring that included replacing the first female executive editor, Sally Buzbee, with a white man. The move sparked backlash and negative attention towards the 144-year-old paper. In a company-wide memo, Lewis acknowledged the loss of trust due to the scars from the past and the recent events and asked employees to presume the best of intent moving forward. He expressed his reflections on leadership styles, trust, and humility and shared supportive emails he received from staff members during the tumultuous week.
Despite facing criticism and backlash, Lewis pushed back on a New York Times story that claimed he and Buzbee had clashed for months before her resignation. Lewis admitted to needing improvement in his listening and communication skills and invited staff members to collaborate on his restructuring plans, which involve dividing the company into three newsrooms. The restructuring plans include naming Matt Murray, the former editor-in-chief of The Wall Street Journal, as the temporary replacement for Buzbee and appointing Robert Winnett to lead the first newsroom. Murray would then be in charge of the third newsroom focusing on service and social-media journalism, while the Opinion section would serve as the second newsroom.
The all-hands staff meeting where Lewis introduced the restructuring plans led to tensions among the employees, with concerns raised about the lack of diversity in the leadership roles. Some staff members questioned Lewis’s hiring practices and his commitment to increasing diversity in the newsroom. One insider commented that Lewis cannot expect to attract new readers when diversity has been abolished from the leadership positions. Lewis acknowledged the concerns raised about creating a diverse workforce that reflects America and promised to show, not just talk about, his commitment to diversity in the newsroom.
Lewis, a British-born media executive who took on the CEO role in November, faces the challenge of rebuilding trust and repairing the damage caused by the recent events at The Washington Post. His efforts to reassure and involve employees in the restructuring process aim to address the concerns raised by staff members and to bring unity and collaboration within the organization. Despite the initial backlash and criticism, Lewis remains determined to lead the newspaper through this turbulent period and to create a diverse and inclusive work environment that aligns with the values and expectations of the company. Lewis’s commitment to listening, improving communication, and fostering collaboration with staff members reflects his dedication to building a strong and resilient team at The Washington Post.
