In a significant shakeup announced on Sunday, The Washington Post bid farewell to its top editor, Sally Buzbee, in a move orchestrated by the new publisher and chief executive, William Lewis, just months before the critical 2024 presidential election.
Lewis expressed admiration for Buzbee’s leadership, stating, “Sally is an incredible leader and a supremely talented media executive who will be sorely missed. I wish her all the best going forward.”
However, Buzbee’s three-year tenure at the venerable newspaper was marked by turbulence, with The Post experiencing a decline in audience during her tenure. Despite celebrating journalistic achievements and winning numerous awards, her leadership was overshadowed by internal strife in 2022, garnering national attention and causing embarrassment for the publication.
Matt Murray, the former editor in chief of The Wall Street Journal, has been appointed as Buzbee’s immediate successor as executive editor. Murray will hold this position through the 2024 presidential election. Following the election, Robert Winnett, deputy editor of The Telegraph Media Group, will assume the role of editor of The Post, overseeing its core news offerings. Murray will then transition to spearheading the establishment of a new newsroom division at The Post, focusing on service and social media journalism.
Lewis emphasized that the creation of an additional newsroom division signifies a departure from the traditional “one size fits all” approach, aiming to engage with audiences on various platforms.
These leadership changes come as Lewis endeavors to revitalize The Post, which experienced audience growth during the tumultuous Trump presidency but has since faced challenges. Lewis disclosed to staffers that the newspaper incurred a loss of $77 million last year and witnessed a 50% decline in its audience since 2020.
Murray, who spent nearly three decades at The Wall Street Journal, expressed his eagerness to join The Post and contribute to its legacy of impactful journalism. He thanked Buzbee for her leadership and expressed enthusiasm for Lewis and Jeff’s vision for the newspaper’s growth and reinvention.
The appointment of Murray, a veteran within Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, underscores the shift in leadership and signals a new chapter for The Washington Post as it navigates through evolving media landscapes.
