WASHINGTON: The executive editor of the Washington Post, Sally Buzbee, has abruptly stepped down from the role, as the storied American newspaper undergoes a major restructuring, its chief executive said late Sunday.
Assuming the job in 2021, Buzbee was the first female editor of the Post in 150 years.
Her departure is part of the biggest move yet by publisher and CEO William Lewis since he took over in January, the newspaper said.
Matt Murray, the former editor-in-chief of the Wall Street Journal, is assuming the executive editor position through November’s US presidential election, according to Lewis.
There was no reason given for the departure of Buzbee, a former top editor of the Associated Press.
In an email to staff, Lewis said he aims to launch “a new division of the newsroom” this year.
The new operation will be separate from the traditional newsroom and the editorial/opinion division.
It will focus on “service and social media journalism,” while making use of AI, Lewis said in his message to staff.
Murray will oversee the new division after the election, according to Lewis, while “core coverage areas” such as politics, business and features will be overseen by Robert Winnett, a veteran of Telegraph Media Group.
Lewis recently acknowledged major losses for the Washington Post over the past year, amounting to some $77 million, and cost-cutting efforts included buyout offers for hundreds of staffers in late 2023.
The paper said that in recent months Lewis has also hired other former Dow Jones colleagues into key Post corporate positions.
The controlling shareholder of Dow Jones and the Journal is Rupert Murdoch, whose family also controls Fox Corporation which runs Fox News.
Washington Post executive editor steps down in major restructuring
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Washington Post executive editor steps down in major restructuring
- Sally Buzbee was the first female editor of the Post in 150 years, assuming the job in 2021
- CEO William Lewis recently acknowledged major losses for the Washington Post over the past year
Spotify and Dubai Culture sign MoU to support local talent development
DUBAI: Spotify and the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this month aimed at supporting the growth of local musical talent.
The partnership will include the sharing of insights, data and analytics, as well as practical support to help UAE-based artists sustain and progress their careers, the organizations said.
As part of the MoU, Spotify and Dubai Culture will launch joint programs and develop a series of music-led projects focused on the emirate’s creative community.
Talent development is a core pillar of Dubai Culture’s work, said Her Excellency Hala Badri, director-general of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.
She added: “In the music sector, this translates into sustained support that enables musicians to develop, produce, and continue their practice over time. The agreement with Spotify is part of our broader efforts to support artists and creatives at all career stages and to strengthen the professional foundations of the music sector in Dubai.”
For Spotify, the MoU is in line with existing initiatives such as the RADAR Arabia program and the Fresh Finds Arabia playlist, which highlight and support local emerging talent.
As a global hub connecting Asia, Africa and Europe, Dubai is playing an increasingly important role in the region’s music economy, said Gustav Gyllenhammar, senior vice president of markets and subscriptions at Spotify.
Through the collaboration with Dubai Culture, he added, Spotify is “helping build a stronger local music ecosystem, supporting discovery and helping music coming out of Dubai reach listeners around the world.”
