The Washington Post’s top editor, Sally Buzbee, has been let go in a shakeup led by new publisher and chief executive William Lewis just months before the 2024 presidential election. Despite praising Buzbee’s leadership, Lewis cited a decrease in audience during her three-year tenure as a reason for the change. The newspaper faced internal turmoil in 2022, leading to national headlines and embarrassment for the publication. Matt Murray, a former editor in chief of The Wall Street Journal, has been appointed as the new executive editor to lead the newspaper through the upcoming election.
Following the 2024 election, Robert Winnett of The Telegraph Media Group will become editor of The Post, overseeing the core news offerings, while Murray will focus on creating a new newsroom that emphasizes service and social media journalism. Lewis described this move as a departure from a one-size-fits-all approach and towards meeting audiences where they are. These changes in leadership come as Lewis works towards reviving The Post, which has suffered a significant loss in audience and revenue in recent years. He disclosed that the newspaper lost $77 million and 50% of its audience since 2020.
Murray, who spent 29 years at The Wall Street Journal, is eager to lead The Post into its next era of growth and reinvention. Having previously worked within Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, Murray expressed his excitement for the new vision set forth by Lewis and Jeff. The Washington Post’s future will involve the creation of an additional newsroom division focused on service and social media journalism. Lewis aims to meet the audience where they are, transitioning away from the previous approach.
Overall, the changes in leadership at The Washington Post come at a critical time as the publication seeks to regain its footing and grow its audience once again. With the incoming leadership team led by Matt Murray and Robert Winnett, the newspaper is poised to enter a new era of journalism. The seismic shakeup executed by William Lewis marks a significant shift for The Post as it seeks to adapt to changing audience needs and industry trends. Time will tell how these changes will impact the newspaper’s future successes.
