Washington Post Forced To Lay Off Dozens After Multiple Top Reporters Ditch Outlet

The Washington Post, a legacy institution in American journalism, is significantly restructuring its operations and plans to lay off a percentage of its workforce. The decision comes during a period of transition for the outlet, which has seen the departure of several prominent reporters in recent months. The Post announced on Tuesday that it is cutting approximately 4 percent of its workforce, which translates to less than 100 employees across various business divisions such as advertising sales, marketing, and information technology.

First reported by The New York Times, these layoffs come as the newspaper attempts to curb its yearly multimillion-dollar losses. The Post’s newsroom will not be impacted by this round of layoffs, having already experienced a reduction of 240 jobs two years ago through a voluntary buyout program. The company stated that these cuts are a strategic response to evolving business conditions. “The Washington Post is continuing its transformation to meet the needs of the industry, build a more sustainable future and reach audiences where they are,” the statement read. “Changes across our business functions are all in service of our greater goal to best position The Post for the future.”

A source told Fox News earlier this week that, while newsroom staffers are not included in the upcoming layoffs, “morale is just horrible” under publisher Will Lewis. This is due to a notable exodus of talent to other outlets, as well as “heavy financial losses and dwindling traffic.”

Former Dow Jones Chief Executive Officer and Publisher of The Wall Street Journal William Lewis leads a roundtable discussion

Lewis, the current publisher and CEO of The Washington Post, has faced a turbulent tenure since taking the helm in January 2024. Formerly the CEO of Dow Jones & Company and publisher of The Wall Street Journal, Lewis brought extensive media experience to the role but has since encountered significant challenges. His leadership has been marked by internal discord, including the resignation of executive editor Sally Buzbee over disagreements on editorial direction, and financial setbacks such as staff layoffs amid declining revenue.

Lewis’s past involvement in the News International phone-hacking scandal has also drawn scrutiny, adding to questions about his stewardship. In October, the Post broke a 36-year tradition by opting not to endorse a presidential candidate, a decision attributed to Lewis that sparked backlash and subscription cancellations. As the paper navigates shifting strategies and mounting criticism, Lewis’s future at the Post remains uncertain. In June 2024, Buzbee departed following disagreements over a restructuring plan introduced by Lewis. The plan divided the newsroom into three separate divisions: core news reporting, opinion pieces, and a new unit focused on attracting consumers through social media, video, artificial intelligence, and sales. Buzbee’s exit was reportedly due to her reluctance to lead one of these divisions, according to The Associated Press.

The Post has experienced a significant decline in digital readership, with unique monthly visitors dropping from 101 million in 2020 to 50 million by the end of 2023. This downturn contributed to a reported loss of $77 million in 2023. In December 2023, staff members staged a 24-hour strike to protest planned layoffs and advocate for better working conditions.