Mutiny at Bezos-owned Washington Post as staff oust incoming British editor and lash out at boss in brazen revolt following exposé
Newly named Washington Post editor Robert Winnett will not be taking over the newsroom amid leadership turmoil at the Jeff Bezos-owned news organization.
The Post's CEO and publisher, Will Lewis, announced Winnett's decision to remain in England in a note to staff on Friday morning.
'It is with regret that I share with you that Robert Winnett has withdrawn from the position of Editor at The Washington Post,' the embattled publisher told staff, as reported by CNN.
Winnett will stay as deputy editor of the Telegraph in London.
The search for a new editor will begin immediately, Lewis told the staff.
Newly named Washington Post editor Robert Winnett will not be taking over the newsroom amid leadership turmoil at the Jeff Bezos-owned news organization
Since then, several published reports had raised questions about the journalistic ethics of Lewis and Winnett stemming from their work in England.
Both men worked together in a series of scoops about extravagant spending by British politicians fueled by information that they paid a data information company for — a practice frowned upon by American journalists.
The Post itself published a 3,000-word expose revealing Winnet had used materials from a self-described 'thief' of reporting.
The New York Times then wrote that both Winnett and Lewis were involved in stories that appeared to be based on fraudulently-obtained phone and business records.
It sparked a newsroom revolt at The Post.
David Maraniss, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner who has worked at the newspaper for four decades, said this week that he didn’t know anyone there who thought the situation with the publisher and 'supposed new editor' could stand.
'The body is rejecting the transfusion,' Maraniss wrote on Facebook.
The Post's CEO and publisher, Will Lewis, announced Winnett's decision to remain in England in a note to staff on Friday morning
Sally Buzbee was the first female editor of the Washington Post in its 150-year history
In his Facebook note, Maraniss said that the issue for staff members is integrity, not resistance to change. To that end, it remains to be seen whether Lewis can gain staff support.
The financially struggling Post had announced Winnett would take over as editor of the core newsroom functions after November’s presidential election, while it was also setting up a 'third newsroom' devoted to finding new ways for its journalism to make money.
Three weeks ago, then-executive editor Sally Buzbee said that she would quit rather than take a demotion to head this revenue-enhancement effort. Former Wall Street Journal editor Matt Murray was brought on as her interim replacement and future leader of the 'third newsroom.'
Buzzbee, the first woman editor of the Washington Post in its 150-year history, has stepped down after recording a $77 million loss last year.
She left the role after the news organization recorded a $77 million last year
Lewis, a former Wall Street Journal publisher and vice chairman of The Associated Press’ board of directors, started at The Post earlier this year, hired by billionaire owner Bezos to stem a costly exodus of readers
The 58-year-old was appointed in May 2021.
Lewis, a former Wall Street Journal publisher and vice chairman of The Associated Press’ board of directors, started at The Post earlier this year, hired by billionaire owner Bezos to stem a costly exodus of readers.
In a memo to key staff members earlier this week, Bezos assured them that journalistic standards and ethics at the newspaper would not change.
'I know you’ve already heard this from Will, but I wanted to also weigh in directly,' he wrote.
'To be sure, it can’t be business as usual at The Post,' Bezos wrote. 'The world is evolving rapidly and we do need to change as a business.'
Lewis said Friday that the recruitment firm and process for replacing Winnett will be announced soon.
Winnett’s sudden hiring — without any indication of an extensive search — had also rankled staff members.
But Lewis also said that the reorganization efforts would continue.
