• by Ray Schultz , Columnist, June 3, 2024

The Washington Post newsroom was reshuffled on Sunday when CEO and Publisher William Lewis announced the immediate departure of Executive Editor Sally Buzbee and the hiring of Matt Murray, former Editor in Chief of The Wall Street Journal, and Robert Winnett, deputy editor of the Telegraph Media Group, in top editorial roles. 

Murray will replace Buzbee as executive editor until this year’s presidential election on Nov. 5. The next day, Winnett will assume the new role of editor of the Post and Murray will become leader of a new unit they are calling the third newsroom, a unit devoted to service and social media journalism that will be operated separately from the core news operation.  

Both new editors will report to Lewis.  

Lewis made his move with the apparent approval of owner Jeff Bezos in the face of a $77 million loss. “We are in a hole,” Lewis admitted to the staff late in May. 

The third newsroom, which will be operational in the third quarter, is to focus on serving Americans who disdain traditional news and want to consume and pay for news differently from traditional offerings, the Post says. It will provide them with compelling news where they are, in the style they want, it claims. 

Recently, the Post announced a new “Build It” plan to provide news to a broader range of readers. Its new offerings include a membership program and subscription tiers titled Post Pro and Post Plus.

The core news division will focus on growing the Post subscriber base and building Pro, Plus and Membership. 

Also in the leadership team is David Shipley, who heads the Opinions Newsroom.

Murray served at The Wall Street Journal for 29 years, including his tenure as leader of the 1,300-person newsroom. He oversaw the doubling of digital traffic and subscriptions. 

“I’m deeply honored to join such a storied news institution with its long, rich history of memorable and impactful journalism and want to thank Sally for her great leadership,” Murray said. “I am excited by Will and Jeff’s vision for The Post’s next era of growth and reinvention and can’t wait to get started.” 

Winnett has run the Telegraph’s news operation since 2013, overseeing the start of a 24-hour, seven-day news operation on digital platforms. 

Lewis praised Buzbee, who joined in 2021 and recently led her team to a Pulitze Prize. "Sally is an incredible leader and a supremely talented media executive who will be sorely missed. I wish her all the best going forward."  

Update:

The Post reports that Buzbee sought to delay the timing of the newsroom restructuring that Lewis was discussing with executives until after Election Day. 

A mutual decision was reached that Buzbee, the first woman in the role, should step down, a development that shocked the newsroom. Buzbee was offered one of the Post’s two newsroom segments, but she chose to resign, The New York Times reports, citing a source familiar with the conversations.

Murray and Winnett are former colleagues of Lewis, and Politico referred to the change as "the Rupert Murdoch-izatioin of the Washington Post." 

Incoming Executive Editor Matt Murray told the staff on Monday, “This is change about growth. “It’s change about the future. It’s change about building on The Post and taking it to the next generation and enhancing the legacy of the place.”