William Lewis, the chief executive of the Washington Post, one of the leading newspapers in the United States, has stepped down following a decision to carry out mass layoffs. In a message to staff, he said “difficult decisions” had been taken to secure the company’s future.
Recently, the newspaper announced plans to cut about a third of its workforce. As a result, major reductions were made in the sports and international news departments. The move was strongly criticised by many journalists, and decisions taken by the paper’s owner, Jeff Bezos, also came under criticism.
Lewis, who was appointed to the role in 2023, had been trying to control the company’s financial losses. However, staff cuts and some controversial editorial decisions led to opposition from both employees and readers. In this situation, Jeff D’Onofrio, the chief financial officer who joined last year, will take charge as the acting chief executive.
Since Amazon founder Jeff Bezos acquired the newspaper in 2013, several changes have taken place. Ahead of the 2024 US presidential election, the paper broke with decades of tradition by deciding not to endorse any candidate, which triggered strong backlash among readers. It is reported that tens of thousands of subscribers cancelled their subscriptions as a result.
The recent layoffs and leadership change are being seen as another chapter in the ongoing upheaval at the Washington Post, one of the world’s major news organisations.
