The Washington Submit mentioned Friday that newly named editor Robert Winnett has determined to not take the job and stay in Britain as an alternative, one other upheaval at a information outlet the place a reorganization plan has gone disastrously mistaken.
The Submit’s CEO and writer, Will Lewis, introduced Winnett’s resolution to withdraw in a notice to workers on Friday morning, and mentioned a recruitment agency can be employed to launch a seek for a alternative instantly.
The financially struggling Submit had introduced Winnett would take over as editor of the core newsroom features after November’s presidential election, whereas it was additionally organising a “third newsroom” dedicated to discovering new methods for its journalism to make cash.
Three weeks in the past, then-executive editor Sally Buzbee mentioned that she would give up reasonably than take a demotion to move this revenue-enhancement effort. Former Wall Avenue Journal editor Matt Murray was introduced on as her interim alternative and future chief of the “third newsroom.”
Paying for information
Since then, a number of printed stories had raised questions concerning the journalistic ethics of Lewis and Winnett stemming from their work in England. For instance, each males labored collectively in a collection of scoops about extravagant spending by British politicians fueled by info that they paid a knowledge info firm for — a follow frowned upon by American journalists.
The New York Occasions wrote that each Winnett and Lewis have been concerned in tales that gave the impression to be primarily based on fraudulently-obtained telephone and enterprise information.
It sparked a newsroom revolt at The Submit. David Maraniss, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner who has labored on the newspaper for 4 a long time, mentioned this week that he didn’t know anybody there who thought the state of affairs with the writer and “supposed new editor” may stand.
“The body is rejecting the transfusion,” Maraniss wrote on Fb.
Reversing a $77 million loss
Lewis, a former Wall Avenue Journal writer and vice chairman of The Related Press’ board of administrators, began at The Submit earlier this yr, employed by billionaire proprietor Jeff Bezos to stem a expensive exodus of readers. The Submit had mentioned it had misplaced $77 million final yr.
In a memo to key workers members earlier this week, Bezos assured them that journalistic requirements and ethics on the newspaper wouldn’t change. “I know you’ve already heard this from Will, but I wanted to also weigh in directly,” he wrote.
“To be sure, it can’t be business as usual at The Post,” Bezos wrote. “The world is evolving rapidly and we do need to change as a business.”
In his Fb notice, Maraniss mentioned that the problem for employees members is integrity, not resistance to alter. To that finish, it stays to be seen whether or not Lewis can achieve workers assist.
Lewis mentioned Friday that the recruitment agency and course of for changing Winnett will likely be introduced quickly. Winnett’s sudden hiring — with none indication of an in depth search — had additionally rankled workers members.
However Lewis additionally mentioned that the reorganization efforts would proceed.
Winnett is staying on the Telegraph in London. Telegraph editor Chris Evans informed that newspaper that “he’s a talented chap, and their loss is our gain,” in keeping with the Guardian.
