WaPo CEO To Staffers: 'Get With the Program'

Sally Buzbee, the executive editor of The Washington Post, Sunday stepped down in what the newspaper described as an “abrupt shake-up at the top.” Her departure came after internal disagreements about the outlet’s future, including the decision to separate its newsroom into segments.

Buzbee had been the executive editor of The Washington Post since 2021. The announcement of her exit was made via an email from CEO William Lewis. In addition to Buzbee’s departure, Matt Murray, the former editor-in-chief of the Wall Street Journal, will temporarily take over as the new executive editor. Following the presidential election in November, Robert Winnett, the former deputy editor of Telegraph Media Group, will assume a newly created editor role1.

The sudden change surprised many in the newsroom, especially considering that less than two weeks prior, Buzbee had discussed plans to create new subscription tiers to enhance revenue during a companywide meeting1. However, her departure raises questions about the direction of the newspaper and the lack of diversity in its leadership, as noted by the Washington Post Guild.

The Washington Post has faced financial challenges, losing $77 million over the past year. The newspaper offered buyouts to several hundred staffers at the end of 2023 to cut costs. The media landscape is evolving rapidly, and traditional news outlets like The Washington Post must grapple with issues such as revenue generation, diversity, and adapting to technological changes. Buzbee’s exit underscores the ongoing challenges faced by media organizations in an ever-changing industry.

Buzbee stepped after three years leading the outlet, with Matt Murray taking the helm until the 2024 presidential election and Robert Winnett announced as his successor.

Will Lewis

An all-hands meeting held by Washington Post CEO Will Lewis and Murray on Monday turned tense as staffers expressed concern about the sudden changes to the outlet, according to Vanity Fair special correspondent Brian Stelter. He wrote on social media that “Lewis bluntly told them to get with the program, so to speak.”

According to the New York Times, Buzbee’s resignation was a result of Lewis’ restructuring of the Post. His choice to split the newsroom into three smaller departments “didn’t work for her.”

“I would have preferred to stay to help us get through this period, but it just got to the point where it wasn’t possible,” Buzbee said during an editorial call, according to the Times.

The restructuring comes just over a week after the paper planned to expand the use of artificial intelligence throughout its newsroom. The Post’s traffic has also been cut in half since its 2020 high, as news publishers across the industry continue to struggle with reader retention.