Will Lewis Named New CEO and Publisher of The Washington Post

The Washington Post has named veteran media executive Will Lewis to serve as its new CEO and publisher, hoping to turn around a recent slump that has seen job cuts and a declining audience. Lewis is the former top executive at the Wall Street Journal and lately founder of a start-up that tries to deliver news to young people.

Lewis's Background

Lewis, 54 and British born, began as a reporter and moved into management, first at the Daily Telegraph in England. He worked for Rupert Murdoch at News Corp for a decade.

The Washington Post's Recent Struggles

The Post exploded in popularity during the Trump administration but recently has faced the same economic troubles as much of the news industry. It has gone through rounds of layoffs, shuttered its Sunday magazine and last month said it would offer 240 voluntary buyouts to its staff. Outgoing interim CEO Patty Stonesifer said that during a recent period of growth, the newspaper spent more than it could afford because financial projections were too optimistic. The Post has 2.5 million digital subscribers, a drop of more than 15 per cent since news magnet Trump left office in 2021. By contrast, The New York Times counted 9.2 million digital subscribers in the middle of this year. In July, The Times reported that The Post is on track to lose about $100 million this year.

Lewis's Goals for The Washington Post

Lewis said in a news release that he was "thrilled and humbled to be at its helm as both a media executive and former reporter." He was not made available for comment on Sunday. Bezos said in the memo to staff members, "As I've gotten to know Will, I've been drawn to his love for journalism and passion for driving financial success." "Will embodies the tenacity, energy and vision needed for this role," Bezos said. "He believes that together we will build the right future for the Post. I agree."

Challenges Ahead for Lewis

Lewis will assume the role at the Post effective Jan. 2, succeeding Stonesifer, who came on when Fred Ryan stepped down earlier this year after nearly a decade in the job. Stonesifer was formerly chief executive of the Gates Foundation and a member of the Amazon board. The Post newsroom is led by Sally Buzbee, its executive editor. Tom Rosenstiel, a journalism professor at the University of Maryland, said, "The Post needs to figure out what it can do to make it uniquely indispensable." The Times has expanded digitally with new areas of focus in recent years, including the popular Wirecutter consumer feature and a variety of games. Rosenstiel said it doesn't make sense for The Post to compete in areas that The Times effectively owns. He added that The Post wisely brought back its Style brand recently and would be smart to emphasize its strength in investigative reporting.

Lewis is currently the founder, CEO and publisher of The News Movement, a social-first media business targeting a Gen Z audience. The Associated Press has worked with The News Movement, and Lewis is currently vice chair of the AP's board of directors. Lewis's work trying to build young audiences is a plus when it's important to the news industry in general, Rosenstiel said. Lewis will face several challenges in his new role, including the need to reverse the Post's recent decline in readership and revenue. He will also need to address the concerns of some Post employees who are skeptical of his appointment. However, Lewis's experience and track record suggest that he is well-qualified to lead the Post into the future.