What's happened
On February 7, 2026, Will Lewis resigned as publisher and CEO of The Washington Post, days after the paper cut nearly one-third of its staff amid financial struggles. Jeff D’Onofrio, the paper’s CFO since June 2025, was named acting publisher and CEO. Lewis’s tenure was marked by layoffs, subscriber losses, and editorial shifts, drawing criticism from employees and unions.
What's behind the headline?
Leadership and Financial Pressures
Will Lewis’s departure underscores the intense financial and operational pressures legacy newspapers face in the digital age. Despite efforts to stabilize The Washington Post, including embracing AI and restructuring, subscriber losses and revenue declines persisted.
Editorial Shifts and Staff Morale
Lewis’s tenure was marred by editorial changes that alienated parts of the readership, notably the cessation of presidential endorsements and a libertarian tilt in opinion pages. These moves, combined with large-scale layoffs, eroded newsroom morale and trust, as evidenced by union statements and staff protests.
Strategic Reset Under New Leadership
Jeff D’Onofrio’s appointment signals a strategic pivot. With a background in digital media and finance, D’Onofrio is expected to focus on aligning content with reader preferences and leveraging data-driven strategies to restore profitability.
Broader Industry Implications
The Post’s struggles reflect wider challenges in journalism: balancing quality reporting with financial sustainability amid changing consumer habits and technological disruption. The outcome of this leadership change will likely influence how other legacy media outlets navigate similar crossroads.
Forecast
The Post will likely continue to streamline operations and experiment with digital innovations. However, rebuilding subscriber trust and newsroom stability will be critical to its long-term viability. Bezos’s role as owner remains pivotal in determining investment and strategic direction.
What the papers say
The Guardian’s Graig Graziosi reports Lewis’s resignation came abruptly after layoffs cutting nearly one-third of staff, highlighting criticism over his absence during the announcement and leadership style. Reuters’ detailed account by an unnamed author reveals Lewis’s tenure was rocky, marked by subscriber losses after editorial shifts and a failed newsroom reorganization, with unions calling his exit "long overdue." Business Insider UK’s Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert captures the union’s harsh condemnation, calling Lewis’s legacy an "attempted destruction" of the institution and urging Bezos to reconsider layoffs or sell the paper. The New York Times’ Benjamin Mullin contextualizes Lewis’s departure within the broader financial struggles of The Post, quoting former editor Marty Baron describing the layoffs as "among the darkest days" in the paper’s history. Sky News emphasizes Lewis’s message to staff about difficult decisions for sustainability and introduces Jeff D’Onofrio’s background in digital media leadership. Together, these sources paint a picture of a legacy media institution at a critical juncture, grappling with financial realities, leadership challenges, and the quest for a sustainable future.
How we got here
The Washington Post, owned by Jeff Bezos since 2013, has faced steep financial losses and declining readership. Will Lewis was appointed publisher and CEO in early 2024 to reverse these trends. His leadership saw significant staff reductions, a failed newsroom reorganization, and a controversial editorial shift away from endorsing presidential candidates, culminating in recent layoffs affecting over 300 journalists.
Go deeper
- What led to Will Lewis’s resignation from The Washington Post?
- Who is Jeff D’Onofrio and what is his background?
- How will the layoffs affect The Washington Post’s future coverage?
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Jeffrey Preston Bezos is an American internet entrepreneur, industrialist, media proprietor, and investor. He is best known as the founder, CEO, and president of the multi-national technology company Amazon.
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The Washington Post is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area.