The CEO and publisher of the Washington Post, Will Lewis, has reportedly become “hidden” amid growing discontent in the newsroom due to a significant overhaul led by owner Jeff Bezos.
Since he took charge in 2023, Lewis has been noticeably absent, particularly since last June, as noted by staff members. A recent feature in the New Yorker highlighted this situation.
Employees have expressed frustration about the departures linked to Bezos’ decision to cut support for Kamala Harris shortly before elections. Additionally, some staff members voiced concerns about Lewis’s drinking habits.
“One of the things that hurt him internally is that his drinking is quite well-known in the newsroom,” a former senior editor commented. “It’s become a running joke among employees.”
Lewis’ absence has reportedly strained his relationship with executive editor Matt Murray, who stepped into the role earlier this year. Issues have arisen concerning how the paper has reported on Lewis’s own tumultuous tenure, as the publication has often focused on internal matters.
“I know Will [Lewis]; I was really upset with Matt. I’m not going to speak to Matt for a while with everything going on,” the former senior editor revealed.
Just last week, Lewis missed a celebration for the newsroom’s Pulitzer Prize wins led by Murray, although reports indicate his absence was due to a long-planned trip.
An official from the Washington Post denied rumors of any fallout between Lewis and Murray.
When questioned about Lewis’ absence, a spokesperson noted that executives respect newsroom boundaries while also participating in news and opinion meetings. The official did not comment regarding allegations about Lewis’s drinking.
Earlier in the year, Lewis’s absence was evident when he chose not to attend the paper’s annual Eugene Meyer Award event, opting instead for a private dinner for the winners in January. Notably, he skipped the cocktail hour, as reported by the New Yorker.
During that dinner, he acknowledged the paper’s recent successes, even while approximately 100 staff layoffs occurred that same month.
Don Graham, the son of former publisher Katherine Graham, spoke at the dinner and noted that morale was low among staff, a sentiment echoed by attendees who described the atmosphere as tense.
In March, Lewis, along with Bezos and Murray, was also absent from a premiere event at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
Another source relayed to the New Yorker that morale remains low, stating that discussions behind closed doors are often condescending and emphasize the need for “discipline” within the newsroom.
A newspaper spokesperson responded to the report, asserting that Lewis had shown “respects” and “gratitude” toward colleagues.
Murray has indicated that Lewis’ absence from important events is linked to his travel schedule.
There’s been notable backlash from the staff regarding Bezos’ directive to shift the paper’s traditionally left-leaning coverage to a more centrist stance. This includes a pointed focus on personal freedom and free markets in the opinion section, which has resulted in significant departures among editors and journalists. Opinion editor David Shipley has resigned, and over 75,000 subscribers have canceled their subscriptions in protest.
In January, more than 400 Washington Post journalists sent a letter to Bezos, urging him to act to restore the “lost trust” within the paper.
