Robert Winnett, deputy editor of The Daily Telegraph, has decided to stay at the newspaper and will not be taking up the position of editor at The Washington Post. This decision came after reports raised questions about his ties to unethical news gathering practices in Britain. Will Lewis, the chief executive of The Post, confirmed that Mr. Winnett had withdrawn from the position and that a search would be conducted to fill the role. Mr. Winnett, known for his reputation as an unassuming newshound, was set to take over as editor after the U.S. presidential election in November.
The connection between Mr. Winnett and a private investigator who used unethical means to obtain information was revealed in reports by The New York Times and The Washington Post. This raised concerns among Washington Post journalists, who privately expressed doubts about his suitability for the top editing job. Several journalists expressed relief that Mr. Winnett would not be leading their newsroom, and his withdrawal is seen as a major setback for Will Lewis, who hired him as part of a reorganization of The Post’s editorial ranks following the resignation of Sally Buzbee.
Matt Murray, the former editor in chief of The Wall Street Journal, is expected to replace Sally Buzbee in an interim role until after the U.S. elections in November. The Post also plans to create a new division focused on service journalism in the first quarter of next year, with Mr. Murray slated to take over. The decision by Mr. Winnett to step aside has left uncertainty about who will lead the newsroom on a permanent basis, as The Post typically conducts a lengthy search to fill its top editor position.
Mr. Lewis has faced criticism in recent days following reports of clashes with Ms. Buzbee over coverage of a court development mentioning him in a phone hacking case. An NPR reporter also accused Mr. Lewis of promising an exclusive interview in exchange for ignoring a story about phone hacking, which Mr. Lewis denied. Further revelations were made about Mr. Lewis and Mr. Winnett’s use of fraudulently obtained records in articles at the Sunday Times newspaper in London, as reported by The New York Times and The Washington Post.
The search for a new editor at The Washington Post continues following Mr. Winnett’s decision to remain at The Daily Telegraph. The Post’s owner, Jeff Bezos, and its chief executive typically conduct interviews with candidates before making a final decision. The appointment of Mr. Winnett was considered unconventional, as Mr. Lewis initially told Ms. Buzbee she could choose a co-editor to run the news operations before informing her that Mr. Winnett would be joining the newspaper.
