Washington Post publisher and CEO Fred Ryan revealed on Monday that he will step down from the helm of the paper in August.
Ryan, who manage The Washington Post for the last 9 years not long after Amazon creator Jeff Bezos obtained it, will rather lead the recently formed nonpartisan Center on Public Civility at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation.
“Jeff is personally providing support for the planning and design phase of this new initiative and supports my decision to make this move,” Ryan informed Washington Post staffers in a memo on Monday.
Ryan stated that under his management, the Post transitioned from a regional print paper to an international digital publication, and won 13 Pulitzer Prize awards. In a declaration, the Washington Post stated that it saw numerous years of success and a significant dive in digital memberships under Ryan.
But the Post has actually not been unsusceptible to wider market battles. The paper has actually laid off newsroom and company workers in the last few years.
A wave of task cuts has actually struck the media market just recently, in both digital and standard newsrooms. The market likewise has actually been coming to grips with the increase of expert system, and newsrooms, consisting of the Washington Post, have actually begun to attend to such concerns as security, payment for copyright, openness, responsibility and fairness.
In his memo, Ryan stated his profession shift comes as he harbors “a deep and growing concern about the decline in civility and respectful dialogue in our political process, on social media platforms and more broadly across our society.”
“Many of us can recall an era when people could disagree without being disagreeable. Political leaders on opposite sides of the aisle could find common ground for the good of the country,” he continued. “Today, the decline in civility has become a toxic and corrosive force that threatens our social interactions and weakens the underpinnings of our democracy. I feel a strong sense of urgency about this issue.”
While Ryan will stay as publisher up until August, Bezos stated Monday in another memo that his “longtime friend and colleague” Patty Stonesifer will sign up with as interim CEO. Stonesifer, an Amazon board member who was the starting CEO of the Bill & & Melinda Gates Foundation list below executive functions at Microsoft, will lead the look for a brand-new CEO.
Read Fred Ryan’s memo to workers here:
Subject: Message for Washington Post Colleagues
Dear Washington Post Colleagues,
Nine years back, I was honored to be picked by Jeff Bezos to be Publisher and CEO of The WashingtonPost Working with Jeff and the extraordinary group at The Post has actually been an extraordinary experience and tremendously rewarding.
Together, we have actually achieved among the most remarkable changes in modern-day media history. We have actually progressed from a mostly regional print paper to end up being an international digital publication. We’ve included substantially to the significant group of reporters, engineers and company professionals and have actually taken The Post through numerous years of success. We’ve introduced an ingenious brand-new innovation platform that is powering numerous other news websites all over the world.
During this time, we have actually won numerous awards for extraordinary journalism, consisting of 13 Pulitzer Prizes, and we have actually two times been called “The World’s Most Innovative Media Company” by Fast Company.
As I have actually shared in discussions with a lot of you, I have a deep and growing issue about the decrease in civility and considerate discussion in our political procedure, on social networks platforms and more broadly throughout our society. Many people can remember an age when individuals might disagree without being disagreeable. Political leaders on opposite sides of the aisle might discover commonalities for the good of the nation. Today, the decrease in civility has actually ended up being a hazardous and destructive force that threatens our social interactions and deteriorates the foundations of our democracy. I feel a strong sense of seriousness about this problem.
As an outcome, I have actually chosen to leave my position at The Post to lead the nonpartisan Center on Public Civility that is being introduced by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation andInstitute Jeff is personally offering assistance for the preparation and style stage of this brand-new effort and supports my choice to make this relocation.
In order to supply guidance and counsel throughout this shift, I have actually accepted stay as Publisher of The Washington Post up until August 1. Jeff will reveal a brand-new interim CEO later on today. It is a remarkable person that I keep in the greatest regard.
In the weeks and months ahead, I anticipate spending quality time with all of my pals and associates throughout The Post to communicate my deep gratitude for your lots of remarkable contributions to our success. I am devoted to offering my complete assistance as the interim CEO charts the course of this shift and the intense future ahead for The Post.
With my inmost gratitude to each of you,
Fred
Read Jeff Bezos’ memo here:
Subject: Message for The Washington Post Team
Dear Washington Post Team,
I wish to reveal my inmost thankfulness and gratitude to Fred for his devoted service to The Washington Post as our Publisher and CEO.
Fred has actually led The Post through a duration of development, journalistic quality, and development. His concentrate on the crossway of journalism and innovation has actually been of terrific advantage to readers and has actually laid the structure for future development.
Fred is extensively appreciated for promoting press liberty and the security of reporters. In addition to releasing the Press Freedom Partnership, he’s been an unrelenting force in his dedication to protect the release of reporters who have actually been incorrectly apprehended and a steadfast voice for responsibility from those who do them damage.
I’m deeply grateful to Fred for his management and for the relationship that we have actually established throughout the years. I anticipate continuing to take pleasure in both as he works to advance civility in our country’s discourse.
To guarantee we do not avoid a beat, Fred has actually accepted stay as Publisher for the next 2 months, and my long time good friend and coworker Patty Stonesifer will sign up with The Post today as interim CEO. She’ll direct our management group, guide us through this crucial shift, and assist me determine the Publisher/ CEO who will take the Post forward into the next years. Patty has actually developed and led terrific companies. You’ll quickly see on your own why I appreciate her. Her abilities, judgement, and character all stick out. She likewise comprehends the value of our objective and has a deep regard for the work we do here.
Please join me in thanking Fred as he gets ready for his brand-new endeavor and in inviting Patty as she presumes the interim CEO function.
Many thanks,
Jeff
