UK Journalist Backs Out of Washington Post Job
UK Journalist Backs Out of Washington Post Job
The Facts
Washington Post publisher Will Lewis announced Friday that the paper will no longer hire British journalist Robert Winnett as its next chief editor over ethics concerns. Winnett will instead remain in his position at the British newspaper The Telegraph.
Washington Post publisher Will Lewis announced Friday that the paper will no longer hire British journalist Robert Winnett as its next chief editor over ethics concerns. Winnett will instead remain at the British newspaper The Telegraph.
The Spin
While a Winnett-free Washington Post is a good start, Bezos needs to step up and get rid of Lewis. The Post has a storied history of hiring the best and brightest journalists, character traits that seem to be missing in the current publisher.
The progressives at the Post are throwing a fit not over ethics concerns but rather over worry that Lewis, who used to work for Rupert Murdoch's companies, will lead a conservative revolt. As Bezos subsidizes the failing paper — which lost $77M last year — with his own wealth, the liberal newsroom should focus on writing better stories.
