Washington Post CEO stepping down

During his visit, Bezos heard repeatedly that there were significant difficulties on the business side and a general lack of strategic business direction; the New York Times, citing an internal financial document, reported that digital ad revenue at The Post declined by about 15 percent to roughly $70 million during the first half of 2022, compared with the first half of 2021.

Following those meetings, Bezos told people he was dedicated to the publication and willing to spend more time and money to get The Post on good footing. His visit was the beginning of a period of renewed engagement at the publication. Since then he has joined regular calls with top leaders at The Post, including Ryan, Buzbee and those in charge of its product division.

Across the country, newspaper companies have been grappling with how to adapt since print advertising began its decline in 2005. One major competitor, the New York Times, has responded by acquiring new media properties, such as the Athletic and Wordle, and investing heavily in lifestyle content such as cooking and games. The Post, meanwhile, invested in its core areas of politics and investigative reporting while expanding its coverage of technology, and passed on opportunities to acquire other media properties.

Ryan said the philosophy behind The Post’s approach is “to create a single, all-inclusive bundle and always try to make it better” rather than “create multiple products and sell multiple subscriptions.” More recently, The Post created a department dedicated to wellness coverage, expanded its climate coverage and started an initiative to reach younger audiences.

Ryan made press freedom a centerpiece of his tenure. Shortly before Ryan came to the company, Post reporter Jason Rezaian was arrested in Iran on false charges of espionage. To build a campaign for his release, Ryan met with White House officials and asked foreign leaders visiting The Post to press Iran to free the reporter. After 545 days in prison, Rezaian was released in January 2016 in a prisoner swap.

“We had to keep Jason’s plight in the forefront,” Ryan said in a 2019 Post documentary about Rezaian’s arrest.

Another Post journalist, freelance contributor Austin Tice, was abducted in Syria in 2012, and Ryan has spent years working closely with his family to try to secure his release. It remains a tragic piece of unfinished business for Ryan, but “I will continue, in this other role, to do everything I can,” he said.

In his Monday memo about Ryan’s exit, Bezos called Ryan a “relentless force” for the release of wrongfully arrested reporters.

Stonesifer — a director on Amazon’s board and a friend of Bezos for 27 years — said that The Post owner asked her to ensure a smooth transition for the company. Neither Ryan nor Stonesifer would comment on when they began discussing a transition plan.

Stonesifer, 67, will also be charged with helping fill vacancies among other executive roles. The Post’s top executives ranks have seen several departures in recent months, including the chief technology officer.

Stonesifer, who said she is not a candidate to succeed Ryan permanently, began her meetings with staff on Monday. Her tenure “could be as short as six months, or it could be longer,” she said in an interview, adding that her goal is to ensure “the team and the culture are in place for the decade ahead.”

The search for Ryan’s replacement “will be broad,” she said. “There are no limits here. I don’t see why it wouldn’t be global.”

Stonesifer lives in D.C., and is married to journalist Michael Kinsley, the founding editor of Slate. She also spent six years as CEO of local nonprofit Martha’s Table. An avid Post reader, she said she is undaunted by the flux in which the media industry finds itself.

“It strikes me, having been in many other businesses, that the position that The Post is in — with the quality we have, the trust our readers have in our work — puts us in a good position not to just weather changes but to lead through these changes,” she said. “I wouldn’t join if this wasn’t an exciting time. It’s a challenging time, but it’s an exciting time, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”