Sucking pencils: As the new Washington Post Editor, Matt Murray, pledged to lead a new era of innovation during a staff meeting on Monday, June 3, 2024. It was a plan that didn’t eventuate as Will Lewis sits in the background. (Photo by Robert Miller/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Welcome to the latest edition of Breaker. If this email has been forwarded, you can subscribe here and send your questions and complaints here. If you have a tip contact the 24/7 Breaker Tip Hotline via text or Signal # 551 655 2343. Anonymity guaranteed!
The shock, disbelief, and denial of Wednesday’s brutal layoffs at The Washington Post has turned to anger amongst those laid off – and those who remain at the paper. In tonight’s edition, we speak with Executive Editor Matt Murray and ask where in the world is Publisher and CEO Will Lewis?
Also tonight, a special edition of hand-curated Journo Jobs above the paywall that we hope may be of some help to those impacted by the layoffs. We have gigs at Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, Punchbowl News, Axios, The Information, City Cast, The Atlantic, Politico, NBC, Versant, GB News, The Sentry, The Financial Times, Boston Globe, and The Lever.
Plus, Axel Springer’s Mathias Döpfner meets with a top Politico editor in New York, more media links in the latest Epstein files, a top New York Times journalist shops a new book, and we have a scene report from a shindig celebrating Seymour Hersh, where he revealed he warned Don Graham about selling The Washington Post to Jeff Bezos.
Mentioned tonight: Rupert Murdoch, Lord Rothermere, Ted Sarandos, Emma Tucker, Tina Brown, Carl Bernstein, Suzi Watford, Karl Wells, Eleanor Breen, Emily Sundberg, Jessica Testa, Brian Stelter, Sophia Efthimiatou, Nate Silver, Alex Vadukul, Joanna Stern, David Geffen, Ken Vogel, Hanne Winarsky, Ian Osborne, Charlotte Tobitt, Andrew Zucker, Erik Wemple, Sally Jenkins, Ashley Parker, Brian Curtis, Ryan Grim, Ben Wizner, Matt Starr, Suleika Jaouad, Kmele Foster, Dan Taberski, Kate Crawford, Jess Bruder, Hugh Dougherty and more.
Journo Jobs
The Wall Street Journal has a number of gigs available in DC, including a Style and Culture Reporter ($120,000-$150,000) and a Visual Editor ($135,000-$155,000).
Bloomberg is chasing a finance whiz in D.C. as its new US Senior Economist. In the role, you’ll help shape forecasts for the U.S. economy and mentor other Bloomberg economists. ($200,000 - $250,000 + Benefits + Bonus).
Axios has a number of remote and DC positions in the newsroom and with their live events team, including Senior Technology Reporter ($87,500-$175,000), Associate Director, Editorial Booker, Axios Events ($85,000-$105,000).
The Information is seeking a Reporter, Politics to cover the tech/political crossover. ($90,000- $160,000 + Bonus + Benefits). They’re also advertising for a News Editor based in New York or San Francisco if you’re ready for a sea change ($200,000-$250,000 + Bonus + Benefits)
Punchbowl News has an opening in D.C. They’re searching for a new Associate Booking Producer to join the team. ($95,000 - $125,000)
City Cast is in need of a DC Host Podcast & Social to present daily podcast conversations and social media videos that reflect what the city’s talking about ($95,000-$130,000).
The Atlantic is expanding its podcast offering and is now seeking a Senior Supervising Editor, Video Podcasts. ($140,000-$180,000)
Politico has a couple of opportunities up for grabs, including a Tax Policy Editor and their Reporter Talent Pipeline (Salaries TBC).
The NBC News Washington Bureau has a position available for an early-career journalist to fill the role of Researcher, White House Unit ($58,490)
Versant has a number of DC positions with its MS NOW brand, including Anchor Production Assistant, The Weeknight ($29.08 -$30.00 p/h), and Director, Politics ($175,000-$200,000)
The Sentry is on the hunt for a new Deputy Director of Investigations responsible for directing and supervising investigations, as well as executing developmental edits and quality assurance processes for all investigative reports ($115,000-$135,000).
The UK’s conservative GB News has a gig available as a DC-based Assistant Editor for “The Late Show Live.” They also have a bunch of gigs available in their London HQ. (Salary TBC)
The Financial Times is advertising for a Taipei-based Greater China Correspondent covering Taiwan, regional security, China’s elite politics, and the People’s Liberation Army. (Salary TBC).
Boston Globe Media have a tasty position up for grabs as their new Food Editor to shape how they tell stories about what Boston eats.
The Lever is advertising for a Senior Investigative Reporter to generate eye-opening investigative scoops for their subscribers. ($90,000-$130,000).
Every Thursday, we bring you hand-picked entry-level gigs for those brave enough to start out in journalism, as well as more senior positions as well. If you have a position that you’d like featured in Journo Jobs, email us.
Where’s Will?
(Exclusive.) Last Thursday, Washington Post Publisher Will Lewis was enjoying lunch with a female guest in the sun room at The Palm in D.C. On Saturday night, he joined Post owner Jeff Bezos and Executive Editor Matt Murray at The Alfalfa Club dinner at The Capitol Hilton.
By Wednesday, when 300 of his journalists were laid off, he was nowhere to be seen or heard by those impacted by the devastating staff cuts.
Lewis’ silence, coupled with his lackluster track record to come up with any coherent business strategy over the two years, has drawn the anger of not only those laid off, but those who remain at The Washington Post.
Just weeks ago at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Lewis was extremely visible, hosting dinners and interviewing Bill Gates at WP Studio at the Hard Rock Hotel, according to two people who spoke with him. “He was charming, engaged, and very affable,” one person told us.
But to his newsroom, Lewis has been missing in action during the biggest crisis the paper has ever faced. In an interview with Breaker on Thursday afternoon, Murray told us that Lewis is…
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