Update, 21 June: Telegraph deputy editor Robert Winnett will not take up his planned position as editor of The Washington Post after his appointmentwas followed by a storm of critical coverage in US media, including from the Post itself.
Winnett had been hired to the role by Washington Post publisher Will Lewis, who was previously Winnett’s boss as editor of The Telegraph.
But on Friday afternoon Telegraph editor Chris Evans emailed staff saying: “I’m pleased to report that Rob Winnett has decided to stay with us.
“As you all know, he’s a talented chap and their loss is our gain.”
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Winnett’s appointment prompted scrutiny in US media, with headlines focusing on his work at the Sunday Times in the early 2000s. Concerns were raised that Winnett published stories based on material obtained illegally by blagger John Ford.
Lewis was himself facing alarm among staff over his work at News International cleaning up the hacking scandal in the 2010s and over the sudden departure of executive editor Sally Buzbee.
Lewis wrote to staff at The Washington Post following Evans’ announcement to confirm the news on their end.
In a note seen by The New York Times, Lewis said it was “with regret that I share with you that Robert Winnett has withdrawn from the position of editor”.
“Rob has my greatest respect and is an incredibly talented editor and journalist…
“We will immediately launch a new search for editor of our core coverage. We will soon announce both the recruiting firm and process we will utilise to ensure a timely but thorough search for this important leadership role.”
Original story, 3 June: Robert Winnett, who has been deputy editor at The Telegraph for ten years, has been named the next editor of The Washington Post.
Winnett will join his former Telegraph editor William Lewis, who is now chief executive of the Post, after the US election is held in November.
His appointment came as it was announced Washington Post executive editor Sally Buzbee stepped down on Sunday night. Buzbee will be replaced by former Wall Street Journal editor in chief Matt Murray until Winnett’s arrival.
Winnett said: “After almost 17 years at The Telegraph, it has been an emotional decision to leave, as I am incredibly proud of all our journalism every day and love being a part of this organisation. The Telegraph is a brilliant place with brilliant people and what we publish is truly world-beating.
“I will miss being a part of the exciting times ahead as The Telegraph continues to lead the way digitally. But I will continue to read, watch and listen to everything the Telegraph publishes with great interest.”
Winnett has been The Telegraph since 2007 and worked on the agenda-setting MPs’ expenses scandal investigation under Lewis. He later became political editor before taking on his current deputy role ten years ago.
Telegraph editor Chris Evans said: “Rob is the most tremendous journalist and has been at the heart of all that is best about The Telegraph. We owe him a great deal. The Post has made a fine choice in appointing him its next editor and he leaves with both our gratitude and our best wishes.”
Before joining The Telegraph Winnett also worked with Lewis at The Sunday Times, as personal finance writer and business editor respectively before Winnett became an investigative reporter.
Washington Post editorship and new ‘third newsroom’
The Washington Post said Winnett will be “responsible for overseeing our core coverage areas, including politics, investigations, business, technology, sports and features” and begin his transition into the role in the run-up to the US presidential election.
The Post praised him for overseeing “the introduction of Britain’s first fully integrated 24-hour, seven-day news operation covering digital platforms and The Daily and Sunday Telegraph newspapers”.
After the election, Murray will become the leader of a new “third newsroom” with a service/social function based around new focuses like video storytelling, embracing AI and flexible payment methods.
It will be run separately from the core news operation and the opinion division, which is led by editorial page editor David Shipley, and be operational by the third quarter of the year.
“The aim is to give the millions of Americans – who feel traditional news is not for them but still want to be kept informed –compelling, exciting and accurate news where they are and in the style that they want,” the Post said of the new division.
It added that this will also mean the core news division can focus on growing the Post’s subscriber base and building a new suite of Pro, Plus and Membership professional products.
Lewis said: “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.”
Buzbee joined the Post as executive editor in June 2021 to succeed former long-time editor Marty Baron. The newsbrand said she led the newsroom through the Covid-19 pandemic and expanded its service journalism including climate and wellbeing.
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