Historic Leadership Change at The Washington Post
Sally Buzbee, the first female executive editor of The Washington Post in 150 years, has stepped down as the renowned newspaper undergoes a significant restructuring, announced CEO William Lewis on Sunday.
Buzbee’s legacy and departure
Buzbee, who assumed the role in 2021, is departing as part of a strategic move by Lewis, who became CEO in January. Her resignation marks a notable shift in the paper’s leadership. The reasons for Buzbee’s departure remain undisclosed.
Matt Murray, the former editor-in-chief of The Wall Street Journal, will take over as executive editor through the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November. Post-election, Murray will oversee a newly created division focused on service and social media journalism, leveraging AI technology, separate from the traditional newsroom and editorial/opinion sections.
Future direction and challenges
Lewis, in his email to staff, emphasized the launch of this new division aimed at modernizing the paper’s approach to journalism. Robert Winnett, a veteran from Telegraph Media Group, will manage core coverage areas such as politics, business, and features.
The Washington Post has faced substantial financial challenges, reporting losses of approximately $77 million over the past year. Cost-cutting measures included buyout offers to hundreds of staffers in late 2023. Lewis has also recruited several former Dow Jones colleagues into key corporate positions at the Post.
The controlling shareholder of Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal is Rupert Murdoch, whose family also controls Fox Corporation, which operates Fox News.