British journalist Robert Winnett, who had been set to join the Washington Post as its executive editor after the November election, has chosen not to accept the position after the paper published an exposé raising ethical questions about his journalistic work.
“It is with regret that I share with you that Robert Winnett has withdrawn from the position of Editor at The Washington Post. Rob has my greatest respect and is an incredibly talented editor and journalist,” publisher Will Lewis wrote in a memo to staff on Friday, according to several news reports.
“The leadership at The Telegraph Media Group are reaffirming his continued role as deputy editor,” Lewis added, saying the Post will “immediately” launch a new search for editor.
“We will soon announce both the recruiting firm and process we will utilize to ensure a timely but thorough search for this important leadership role,” he said.
The update comes after the New York Times reported that Lewis and Winnett used stolen phone and company records while reporting for the Sunday Times in the 2000s. The Washington Post then followed up with its own 3,000-word front-page exposé detailing Winnett’s use of reporting materials obtained by a hired “thief” and comparing his actions and U.K. reporting ethics with U.S. reporting ethics.
Lewis rankled staff as soon as he took over by announcing plans to divide the paper’s editorial operation into three distinct newsrooms, consisting of opinion, hard news, and a social-media and service-oriented operation. Former executive editor Sally Buzbee reportedly objected to Lewis’s plan and abruptly resigned from the top job shortly after the British media veteran took over as publisher.
Now that Winnett no longer plans to join the Post, he will instead stay on as deputy editor of The Telegraph.
The editor of the London paper celebrated the news in a statement to staff on Friday. “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,” Telegraph editor Chris Evans said.