Trouble's Brewing at The Washington Post: Silence from Bezos Amidst Ethical Integrity Questions
Bezos, at Washington Post, faces growing criticism from employees as their patience dwindles.
Owner of The Washington Post and Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos has remained mum regarding the ongoing chaos at his newspaper, which continues to be engulfed in controversy as explosive reports surface on a regular basis, casting serious doubt on the credibility of the paper's new publisher, Will Lewis.
Discontent among staff at The Post is running high as Bezos' only response to the Lewis predicament has been a brief, underwhelming memo sent from his yacht vacation to a select few leaders at The Post, assuring them that he values high standards. However, staff at the Post believe that maintaining high standards is precisely the issue, as they fear that Lewis and incoming editor Robert Winnett pose a significant threat to this goal.
Frustration and concern are reaching a boiling point at the institution, with two of its Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists deciding to speak out publicly, advocating for a leadership change- a rare move at the iconic newspaper. Associate editor David Maraniss, who has spent almost five decades at The Post, expressed his doubts about the current situation, saying that he doesn't "know a single person at the Post who thinks the current situation with the publisher and supposed new editor can stand." Scott Higham, who has worked at The Post for over two decades, echoed Maraniss' sentiments, calling for Lewis' resignation.
"Will Lewis needs to step down for the good of The Post and the public," wrote Higham on Facebook. "He has lost the newsroom and will never win it back."
It's clear that Maraniss and Higham are merely vocalizing what much of the newsroom is already thinking. In conversations with over a dozen people inside and close to The Post this week, it's been made abundantly clear that Lewis has managed to alienate the staff during his brief six-month tenure, leaving him with an uphill battle to win back the trust of the employee base he aims to lead. The question is not whether he has good business ideas, but rather whether he has earned the respect of his staff. Without that legitimacy to lead, it is nearly impossible to make any headway, let alone orchestrate a profound business transformation.
Bezos did not respond to request for comment on Thursday. However, it's hard to imagine that he is unaware of the precarious situation facing The Post. It's difficult to believe that his brief memo to The Post's leadership was sufficient to quell the concerns that have fueled the unprecedented uproar at the newspaper. In fact, it's significant that Bezos has yet to publicly express support for Lewis during this critical period. He may be assessing the situation and considering his course of action to stem the escalating crisis.
Staff at The Post are eagerly waiting for Bezos to take some decisive action. Ever since anger at Lewis erupted earlier this month, employees have expressed concerns that the ongoing drama has diverted focus from the paper's essential work. With a high-stakes election nearing, it's far from ideal to have the attention of one of the nation's most influential news organizations divided by internal strife.
"It's a massive distraction," a staffer admitted Thursday, adding that the Guardian's story accusing Lewis of advising former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson to "clean up" his phone during the "Partygate" scandals is "the talk of the newsroom." (Lewis and Johnson both vehemently denied the story.)
"I don't think the mood will change until something else changes," the staffer added.
In the absence of a response from Bezos, questions about Lewis' ethical integrity continue to surface. The Financial Times reported Thursday that Lewis still maintains ties to a public relations firm that advises powerful corporate and political leaders on how to handle delicate situations. Despite Lewis having sold his ownership stake in the business, the firm has continued to distribute emails from Lewis, causing confusion among those who are in contact with the agency.
While the Financial Times' Thursday report did not carry the same weight as the reports that have been published in recent days, it raised additional concerns about Lewis' background and entanglements. It is highly likely that many more questions will arise in the future as The Post and outlets such as The New York Times continue to scrutinize Lewis' history. The question on the minds of staff at The Post is simple: What is Bezos going to do to restore the reputation and prestige of his storied newspaper?
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The Financial Times reported that despite Will Lewis having sold his ownership stake, the public relations firm he previously advised continues to distribute emails from him, causing confusion and raising further questions about his ethical integrity within The Washington Post. In response to the growing criticism and mounting concerns about The Washington Post's business practices and ethical standards, Bezos has yet to issue a public statement or take decisive action to address the situation.
