WaPo talent exodus fuels speculation about its future

Dozens of journalists are taking buyouts and calling it quits at the Washington Post, fueling speculation about how the storied paper can survive while bleeding so much talent.Why it matters: The buyouts are designed to make it easier for staffers questioning the strategy of the Post's leadership to exit. CEO Will Lewis earlier this month encouraged staffers "who do not feel aligned with the company's plan" to reflect on the buyout offer.Zoom in: The buyouts are hitting some of the Post's most recognizable teams the hardest. Politico has compiled a list of at least 100 journalists who have left the paper since November. Opinion: Longtime editorial journalists such as Pulitzer winner Jonathan Capehart, Philip Bump and Catherine Rampell have taken the buyout, in addition to a slew of other names, Axios has reported.The buyouts follow a string of editorial resignations, including the Post's former opinion section editor, David Shipley, and veteran editor Ruth Marcus, in response to editorial policy changes. News: Several top reporters have left the paper or taken buyouts in recent months, including Dan Balz, Aaron Blake, Ashley Parker, Josh Dawsey, Michael Scherer and Leigh Ann Caldwell.Top editors such as Matea Gold and Phil Rucker have also left for the New York Times and CNN, respectively.The Post's longtime fact-checker Glenn Kessler has taken a buyout. Video: The newsroom's video team, which has won several awards and created a reputation for getting ahead on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, has seen a bunch of recent exits.Dave Jorgenson, the company's viral TikTok content creator, is leaving to start his own venture with two other Washington Post video colleagues.According to Politico, six other video journalists have left in the past few months.The Post does plan to hire more multimedia journalists.What they're saying: A Washington Post spokesperson said in a statement to Axios, "We appreciate the contributions of our departing colleagues and we wish them success in the next chapters of their careers.""The reinvention of our business continues apace as we work to deliver world-class news experiences and expand our reach to serve all Americans."Between the lines: The departures come as other sections have already been hit hard by Post layoffs and cuts. The Post's Metro section was significantly impacted by buyouts in 2023. The Post laid off staffers across gaming and kids coverage divisions the same year. Zoom out: The steep cuts come amid sweeping changes implemented by the Post's new management team and owner Jeff Bezos. Last year, Lewis announced an overhaul of the Post's editorial strategy that was meant to broaden the outlet's coverage and reach a wider audience. Those changes included the creation of a "third newsroom" that focused on video, audio, newsletters and social engagement.Last week, the Post announced a massive shift within the "third newsroom," called WP Ventures, that puts the unit under a commercial leader and separates it from its core news brand.

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