Washington Post Feels Pressure for Profit Under Jeff Bezos' Oversight

Amidst turmoil at the esteemed Washington Post, pressure mounts on CEO William Lewis, tasked by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to steer the newspaper out of financial distress. Recent events have seen the abrupt resignation of the managing editor and the withdrawal of a successor amid controversy, casting a shadow over Lewis's leadership.

The Post, renowned for its Pulitzer-winning journalism since the Watergate era, reported a staggering $77 million loss in 2023 despite cost-cutting measures and the discontinuation of its Sunday edition. William Lewis, a former journalist celebrated for his investigative work at the Daily Telegraph, faces increasing scrutiny over his tenure with the Murdoch family's media empire, particularly regarding his alleged role in the phone-hacking scandal at The News of the World.

Accusations have surfaced that Lewis authorized the destruction of thousands of emails in 2011, prompting internal investigations and accusations of evidence tampering, which Lewis vehemently denies. This controversy comes at a critical time for the Post, which experienced a surge in readership during the Trump administration but struggled to maintain momentum after Biden's election victory.

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"The Trump bump," as it was called, boosted the Post's profile with its rigorous coverage of the former president. However, with Trump out of office, the Post, like many news outlets, faced declining subscriptions and struggled to retain its audience. By the end of 2022, its subscriber base had dropped from 3 million to 2.5 million, contrasting sharply with the New York Times, which expanded its readership to over 10 million by diversifying its content.

In an attempt to revitalize the newspaper, Lewis proposed restructuring the editorial department into three units: news, opinion, and a new division focused on social media and service journalism. This move, intended to attract a broader readership, was met with skepticism and contributed to the resignation of editor-in-chief Sally Buzbee, who reportedly clashed with Lewis over strategic changes.

Critics within the Post and media circles have raised concerns about Lewis's leadership style and his past managerial decisions at the Wall Street Journal, where allegations of unethical practices surfaced. These allegations included payment to sources, the use of hacked data, and questionable methods to obtain information, prompting Lewis's initial choice for Buzbee's replacement, Robert Winnett, to withdraw from consideration.

As tensions escalate, veteran journalists and industry experts question Lewis's ability to retain the confidence of the Post's staff and readership. The future of the newspaper, now in the hands of owner Jeff Bezos, who has so far stood by Lewis amidst the controversy, remains uncertain. Observers suggest that Bezos's decision regarding Lewis's tenure will likely determine the course of this crisis at one of America's most revered newspapers.

June 29, 2024 1:33 p.m. 461

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