WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Will Lewis, the embattled chief executive and publisher of The Washington Post, has stepped down abruptly, days after the newspaper faced intense backlash for laying off nearly one-third of its staff, including more than 300 journalists. The move has deepened concerns about the future of one of America’s most influential news organizations.
The Post announced Lewis’s resignation Saturday evening. In a brief statement to staff, Lewis said he decided to leave “to ensure the sustainable future of The Post.” He thanked owner Jeff Bezos but did not acknowledge the journalists affected by the sweeping layoffs.
Lewis’s exit came just three days after the newspaper cut about 30 percent of its workforce as part of a cost-cutting effort aimed at reversing years of financial losses. The layoffs sharply reduced local, international, and sports coverage, prompting anger and grief inside the newsroom and across the media industry. Marty Baron, the former executive editor of The Post, called the layoffs one of the “darkest days in the history of one of the world’s greatest news organizations.”
Jeff D’Onofrio, the newspaper’s chief financial officer, was named acting chief executive and publisher. In a memo to employees, D’Onofrio acknowledged the challenges facing the media industry and pledged to guide the Post toward a stable future.
“I’m honored to take the helm as acting Publisher and CEO,” D’Onofrio wrote. He said the strength of the Post’s journalism would remain the organization’s guiding force.
Bezos also released a statement following Lewis’s departure. He praised the Post’s mission and future opportunities but did not address the recent layoffs or Lewis’s leadership.
“The Post has an essential journalistic mission and an extraordinary opportunity,” Bezos said. “Every day our readers give us a roadmap to success.”
Lewis’s sudden resignation surprised many inside the newsroom. He attended meetings earlier in the week and gave no public sign that he planned to leave, according to people familiar with the matter.
Criticism of Lewis intensified after he did not appear on the all-staff Zoom call where editors announced the layoffs. Instead, Matt Murray, the paper’s executive editor, delivered the news alone. The backlash grew after photos surfaced showing Lewis attending Super Bowl events in San Francisco, even as the Post dismantled much of its sports department. The images sparked outrage among current and former employees, who viewed them as a symbol of disconnected leadership during a painful moment for the newsroom.
Lewis, 56, joined The Washington Post in early 2024 after a long career in British and American media. He previously served as publisher and CEO of The Wall Street Journal and held senior roles at Rupert Murdoch’s media companies.
During his tenure at the Post, Lewis launched several initiatives aimed at boosting digital subscriptions and cutting costs. Critics said those efforts failed to reverse declining readership or restore confidence among staff.
“Results matter,” said Glenn Kessler, a former Post journalist. He said Lewis never found a way to grow the audience or stabilize the newsroom.
The union representing most Post employees welcomed Lewis’s departure but renewed calls for Bezos to reverse the layoffs or sell the paper to an owner willing to invest in its future.
Lewis’s exit has revived broader debates about billionaire ownership and the future of independent journalism. Critics have contrasted the Post’s struggles with the Guardian’s unique ownership model, which places editorial independence above profit through a trust structure.
