Will Lewis, the publisher of the Washington Post, resigned on Saturday just three days after the newspaper revealed it was laying off one-third of its staff. In a message to employees, Lewis indicated that difficult decisions were made to ensure the newspaper's sustainable future.
Both Lewis and billionaire owner Jeff Bezos notably did not attend a recent meeting where the layoffs were announced, a decision that may have further unsettled staff. Jeff D’Onofrio, who joined the Post as CFO last June, has been named acting publisher and CEO.
Lewis, who previously served as a leading executive at The Wall Street Journal, took over at the Post in January 2024 amidst a series of challenges including layoffs and a reorganizational plan that led to the exit of former editor Sally Buzbee.
One striking consequence of these layoffs has been the closure of the Post's distinguished sports section and severe cuts to both foreign and local coverage, alongside the termination of its photographic team. These changes reflect a growing struggle for the publication, which has already lost a significant number of subscribers after Bezos pulled back on a previously anticipated endorsement for Kamala Harris during the last presidential campaign, causing shifts toward a more conservative editorial stance.
