In an internal email shared publicly by reporters, Lewis described his decision as “the right time to step aside.” The company did not provide further details on the circumstances of his resignation, but the timing closely followed the announcement of hundreds of layoffs across multiple departments.
Hundreds of Journalists Laid Off
Earlier this week, The Washington Post revealed plans to drastically shrink its newsroom in response to sustained financial losses.
The layoffs disproportionately affected international, local, and sports coverage. Entire overseas desks were shut down, including the Middle East bureau, while the paper’s Ukraine-based correspondent was also laid off despite the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Several local reporting teams, graphics units, and the daily podcast Post Reports were either scaled back or suspended.
Staff Protests and Reader Backlash
The cuts sparked immediate backlash from employees and readers alike. Hundreds of journalists and supporters gathered outside the newspaper’s downtown Washington headquarters on February 5 to protest the layoffs, calling them devastating to public-interest journalism. Former executive editor Marty Baron described the episode as “among the darkest days in the history of one of the world’s greatest news organisations.”
Subscribers also reacted strongly, with many cancelling their digital subscriptions in protest. Industry analysts say the reaction highlights the growing tension between financial sustainability and journalistic mission across legacy media organisations.
Financial Struggles and Industry Headwinds
The Washington Post’s troubles reflect a wider crisis in the newspaper industry, where advertising revenues have collapsed and digital subscriptions have failed to fully replace print-era income. While national competitors such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal have diversified revenue streams and stabilised finances, the Post has struggled despite backing from one of the world’s wealthiest individuals.
Reports indicate the paper lost nearly $100 million in 2024 as advertising and subscription revenues declined. The situation worsened after the Post refrained from endorsing Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 US election, a move that reportedly led to the loss of around 250,000 digital subscribers.
Editorial Independence Under Scrutiny
Lewis’s tenure was also marred by allegations of editorial interference. Owner Jeff Bezos faced criticism for exerting influence over the paper’s editorial direction, including curbing its traditionally liberal-leaning opinion pages. The decision to block a presidential endorsement was widely viewed as a breach of the longstanding firewall between ownership and editorial independence.
Media scholars and journalists warned that such interventions risk eroding trust in the publication at a time when credibility is crucial.
What Lies Ahead for the Washington Post
As Jeff D’Onofrio assumes leadership, the Washington Post faces the challenge of rebuilding morale while redefining its business model. Observers say restoring confidence among journalists and readers will be essential if the paper hopes to reclaim its standing as a global standard-bearer for independent journalism.
Lewis’s departure underscores the precarious position of legacy media in the digital age, where cost-cutting measures often collide with the very values that made such institutions influential. Whether the Post can navigate this crisis without further damaging its reputation remains an open question.
