Keep knowledgeable with loose updatesSimply signal as much as the Media myFT Digest — delivered without delay in your inbox.Veteran British media government Sir Will Lewis has been named as the brand new writer and leader government of The Washington Submit, because the newspaper workforce owned via Amazon founder Jeff Bezos appears to restore its fortunes. Lewis, 54, has had a number of high-profile jobs within the media trade, together with being editor of the Day-to-day Telegraph, writer of the Rupert Murdoch-owned Wall Boulevard Magazine and leader government of Dow Jones. Maximum lately he co-founded the Information Motion, an organisation looking for to offer dependable knowledge on platforms with massive audiences of younger other people, akin to TikTok and YouTube. The previous Monetary Instances journalist had additionally been within the operating to shop for the Day-to-day Telegraph, which used to be market it remaining month. In September, Lewis instructed Bloomberg that he had coated up investment for a bid for the paper. He plans to withdraw from the bidding procedure, in line with an individual acquainted with the location.Lewis will start his new function on the Washington Submit on January 2, and takes over from intervening time leader government Patty Stonesifer. The USA broadsheet has been on the lookout for a brand new everlasting head for the reason that departure this summer season of Fred Ryan, who have been leader government and writer for just about a decade.In a remark, Bezos stated Lewis used to be “an outstanding, tenacious trade government whose background in fierce, award-winning journalism makes him the best chief on the proper time”.Lewis stated: “Main this daring media emblem way construction on my dedication to championing fine quality journalism and safeguarding our democratic values.”By means of becoming a member of the Washington Submit, Lewis provides to the ranks of British executives on the helm of best US media organisations. Previous this yr, former BBC director-general Mark Thompson turned into leader government of cable TV information channel The Gentleman Report, whilst Emma Tucker used to be named as editor-in-chief of The Wall Boulevard Magazine in December remaining yr. After playing a surge in subscriptions all the way through the presidency of Donald Trump, the Washington Submit has noticed enlargement falter extra lately. Ultimate month Stonesifer, a board member at Amazon, instructed body of workers that projections for enlargement in promoting, web site visitors and subscriptions have been “overly constructive”, and introduced plans to scale back headcount via round 10 in keeping with cent thru voluntary redundancy.Lewis used to be given a knighthood previous this yr for his “political and public provider”, having been an adviser to former UK top minister Boris Johnson. All through his time as editor, Lewis and the Telegraph gained more than one awards for its investigation into the misuse of bills via British contributors of parliament. In a while after Lewis turned into overall supervisor of Murdoch’s UK newspapers trade in 2010, one of the most corporate’s publications — the Information of the International tabloid — used to be engulfed in an unlawful phone-hacking scandal. Not up to a yr into the task, Lewis used to be seconded to an unbiased committee inside of Murdoch’s media empire chargeable for dealing with the corporate’s reaction. Further reporting via Daniel Thomas in London
