The Washington Post’s managing editor, Sally Busbee, will step down from her role in a major and sudden shakeup at the nation’s premier news organization.
Matt Murray, the former editor-in-chief of The Wall Street Journal, will succeed him through a presidential election, the company announced Sunday night. Robert Winnett, deputy editor of the Telegraph Media Group, will take over after the election.
Mr. Murray will move into a new role after the election, creating a new newsroom at The Washington Post focused on service and social media journalism.
Ms Busbee, 58, has led the paper for the past three years, a turbulent period that has seen award-winning journalism and audience decline and some top talent leaving the newsroom.
Ms. Buzzbee and Mr. Murray did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
“Sally was an incredible leader and highly skilled media executive who will be greatly missed,” Will Lewis, The Post’s chief executive and publisher, said in a statement. “I wish her the best going forward.”
Mr. Lewis has been involved in reinventing the newspaper’s top ranks since his appointment last year. In April, The Post announced the addition of Susie Watford, a former top executive at Dow Jones, publisher of The Wall Street Journal, as its chief strategy editor. In January, The Post named Carl Wells as its chief development officer, a position responsible for subscription strategy, partnerships, licensing and data analytics.
At a town hall last month, Mr. Lewis updated employees on his strategy to revitalize the business and revealed the extent of The Post’s financial problems, including a loss of more than $70 million by 2023 and a significant decline in audience.
Mr. Murray, 58, led The Journal for four years, succeeding Mr. Appointed by Lewis. Mr. Murray was replaced in 2023 by British author Emma Tucker. He has served as a consultant to News Corp., which owns The Journal, and is a contributing editor to News Items, an email newsletter publication.
Ms. Busbee joined The Post in June 2021 after serving as managing editor of The Associated Press, where she spent her entire career. He took over The Post from legendary newspaper editor Marty Baron, who ran The Post for eight years and oversaw its transition to ownership by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who bought the paper in 2013 for $250 million.
The Post greatly expanded its editing ranks under Ms. Busbee, announcing the addition of approximately 41 positions in 2021, revamping its vaunted Styles section. The magazine also closed its Sunday edition, much to the chagrin of many of the paper’s feature writers. It has won six Pulitzer Prizes since joining, three of them this year.
The company’s former chief executive, Fred Ryan, stepped down last June and was replaced by Amazon board member Patty Stonecipher. Mr. Bezos confidant Ms. Stonecipher evaluated the company and quickly determined that it would need to cut about 240 jobs to remain financially viable. Mrs. Stonecipher led the search for his successor, and Mr. Lewis was added to The Post last year.
