Shuffle at the Washington Post: Buzbee Steps Down, Murray Takes Over

Sally Buzbee, Executive Editor of The Washington Post, has resigned from her position just months before the upcoming presidential election. Buzbee will be succeeded by Matt Murray, former Editor-in-Chief of The Wall Street Journal.

Sally Buzbee has announced her resignation as Executive Editor of The Washington Post, a position she has held since 2021. Her departure comes unexpectedly, leaving the newspaper with just months to prepare for the crucial presidential election in November.

"Sally is an incredible leader and a supremely talented media executive who will be sorely missed," said William Lewis, CEO and Publisher of The Washington Post. "I wish her all the best going forward."

Matt Murray, former Editor-in-Chief of The Wall Street Journal, will take over the role as Executive Editor. After serving until the presidential election this year, Murray will be succeeded by Robert Winnett, deputy editor of The Telegraph Media Group.

"I'm deeply honored to join such a storied news institution with its long, rich history of memorable and impactful journalism," Murray said.

Buzbee's departure coincides with a restructuring at The Washington Post aimed at adapting to the changing media landscape and audience preferences. The newspaper will now implement three distinct journalism functions: Core, Service/Social, and Opinions.

"By creating three, strong, journalism functions – Core, Service/Social and Opinions – we are taking a definitive step away from the 'one size fits all' approach and moving towards meeting our audiences where they are," Lewis explained.

During her tenure, Buzbee oversaw a period of financial strain for The Washington Post, which suffered losses exceeding $70 million in 2023. The newspaper has also faced internal challenges, including a 24-hour walkout by unionized workers in December 2023 over stalled contract negotiations.

"This has been a chaotic and turbulent period internally," a Washington Post insider told Fox News Digital in December.

The Washington Post has been owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos since 2013. Despite Bezos' initial support, the newspaper has continued to face financial hurdles. Some staffers have questioned Bezos' level of involvement and whether he should intervene more actively in the paper's operations.

Under Murray's leadership, The Washington Post aims to navigate the rapidly evolving media landscape and remain a trusted source of news and information. With the presidential election approaching, the newspaper faces both opportunities and challenges as it seeks to adapt to the changing tastes of its audience and address its ongoing financial difficulties.