The Washington Post announced on Saturday that it has named William Lewis as its new publisher and CEO. Lewis, a veteran media executive with decades of experience, will assume the role on January 2, 2024, taking over from interim CEO Patty Stonesifer.
The appointment of Lewis marks an important leadership change for one of America’s most prestigious and iconic news organizations. The Washington Post has a long history of award-winning journalism but has faced financial struggles and declining readership in recent years.
Who is William Lewis?
William Lewis, 54, is a British-born former journalist who has held top leadership positions at some of the biggest names in media.
He served as CEO of Dow Jones and publisher of The Wall Street Journal from 2014 to 2020. Under his leadership, The Journal significantly expanded its digital operations and transformed the digital age.
Before that, he was chief creative officer at News Corp, working across Rupert Murdoch’s sprawling media empire. He also served as group general manager for News Corp’s UK operations.
Earlier in his career, Lewis was editor-in-chief of The Daily Telegraph in London. During his tenure in 2010, The Telegraph was named Newspaper of the Year at the prestigious British Press Awards.
Lewis has also worked as a business editor at The Sunday Times, a global news editor at the Financial Times, and a reporter at The Mail on Sunday.
“The Washington Post is a premier global media publisher of record, known for its 145-year-old history of unflinching journalism, and I am thrilled and humbled to be at its helm,” Lewis said in a statement.
Challenges Facing The Washington Post
While Lewis’ experience makes him well-qualified to lead The Washington Post, he will have his work cut out for him. The newspaper has faced some difficult years financially.
The Washington Post saw a huge boost in readership during the Trump presidency, with digital subscriptions spiking. However, in the post-Trump era, The Post’s digital audience has fallen by 28% since 2021. Digital subscriptions are down 15% in that time.
The paper has reportedly overspent in recent years and is on track to lose around $100 million in 2022. Earlier this year, The Post offered buyouts to around 25% of its staff to cut costs.
Morale among Post employees has suffered amid the layoffs and financial uncertainty. Lewis will need to steady the ship and make The Post profitable again.
At the same time, The Post is facing the same pressures as the wider newspaper industry. Readership habits have changed dramatically in the digital age. Lewis will need to find ways to attract younger audiences and keep The Post relevant.
What Lewis Brings to The Post
Jeff Bezos, who purchased The Post in 2013, expressed confidence that Lewis has the right skills and experience to lead The Post forward.
“I stand confident in [The Post’s] future knowing it is in the hands of Will, an exceptional, tenacious industry executive whose background in fierce, award-winning journalism makes him the right leader,” Bezos said.
As a former top editor and publisher, Lewis has firsthand experience guiding journalists and leading newsrooms. He also has a track record of digital transformation, having moved both The Telegraph and The Wall Street Journal into the digital era.
His time at the intersection of media and technology companies gives him valuable perspective. Having worked on both the editorial and business sides of media, Lewis brings a holistic view to the publisher and CEO role.
Fred Ryan, The Post’s previous publisher, stepped down in June 2022 after nearly a decade. Ryan was credited with overseeing The Post’s digital growth but was criticized for declining readership and revenues in the last couple of years.
The Washington Post eyes its future with Lewis.
William Lewis will take charge of The Post at a pivotal moment, facing dual challenges to reinvigorate its newsroom and make the business profitable again.
He will need to boost morale among Post employees and ensure the newspaper continues to produce top-notch journalism.
On the business side, Lewis will need to find ways to regain lost readership, grow digital subscriptions again, and get The Post back to financial stability.
With his wealth of experience, industry knowledge, and past digital transformation success, Lewis appears well-equipped to lead The Post into its next chapter. But he will have plenty of difficult decisions ahead as the newspaper industry continues to face disruption.
The future remains unclear, but with Jeff Bezos’ backing and Lewis now at the helm, The Washington Post hopes it can return to growth and retain its stature as one of the top news institutions in the United States.
