Riveting storytelling
for all of America
From the capital city of the most important country in the world, we serve engaged citizens with vital news, ideas and insight where, how and when they want it.
We connect Washington to the world and the world to Washington.
Our Storytelling
Our Leadership
William Lewis
Publisher and CEO
With 33 years in the news media industry, William has specialized in helping and leading companies through significant periods of change, transformation and innovation. Before starting his current role in January 2024, William led The News Movement, a startup he co-founded focused on providing younger audiences with factual news on the platforms they use most.
Prior to launching The News Movement, William served as CEO of Dow Jones and Publisher of The Wall Street Journal from 2014 to 2020. During his time at Dow Jones, he led a major digital transformation across the business that led to robust growth in its Professional Information Business (PIB) and boosted total subscriptions to over 3 million.
In 2010 William joined News Corp in the UK as Group General Manager to oversee the digital transformation of the four masthead newsrooms.
Earlier in his career, William served as Editor of The Daily Telegraph and then Editor-in-Chief of the Telegraph Media Group where he introduced a groundbreaking "hub and spoke" integrated publishing model. He led a radical digital transformation that helped modernize the company's operations. The Daily Telegraph was named UK Newspaper of the Year in 2010, and William was named Journalist of the year.
Before joining the Telegraph, William was Business Editor of The Sunday Times and prior to that, Global News Editor of the Financial Times. At the FT, William was a key part of the award-winning team that successfully led the expansion of the publication into the U.S. market. In 1999, while posted at FT’s New York office, William broke the story of the ExxonMobil merger, then the biggest industrial merger in U.S. corporate history.
William currently serves as Vice Chair of The Associated Press Board of Directors and holds a degree in Politics and Economics from Bristol University, a postgraduate Diploma in journalism, and three honorary degrees.
Matt Murray
Executive Editor
Matt Murray is executive editor of The Washington Post. During his first year, The Post established the largest White House team in its history, expanded its investigations team, created several new coverage teams, and won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news coverage of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Butler, PA.
Matt served as editor in chief of The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires from June 2018 to February 2023, during which The Journal doubled digital subscriptions, grew its social media presence and video and audio businesses, and won two Pulitzer Prizes and its first Emmy.
He is the author of "The Father and the Son," an account of his father's journey to becoming a monk, and the writer of "Strong of Heart," a 9/11 memoir by Thomas Von Essen, former New York City fire commissioner.
Matt holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in journalism from Northwestern University and lives in Washington with his family.
Adam O'Neal
Opinion Editor
Adam is The Post’s opinion editor. In this role he leads the Editorial Board and the broader section in line with the strategic pillars of “free markets and personal liberties.” Before coming to The Post he was the Washington correspondent for The Economist. He also worked as executive editor at The Dispatch and as a writer and editor at The Wall Street Journal editorial page. Adam is a native of Pomona, CA.
L. Wayne Connell
Human Resources
Wayne joined The Washington Post in 2005. As chief human resources officer, he leads human resources in workforce planning, talent acquisition, DEI, total rewards, organizational development, retention and HR policy. With experience in the hospitality, aviation and media industries, Wayne has guided organizations in creating long-term HR strategies that enable the most effective use of their talent.
Jeff D’Onofrio
Finance & Operations
Jeff is the chief financial officer of The Washington Post. A skilled digital media executive with extensive experience as a CEO, COO, and CFO, his career has spanned pioneering platforms in live streaming, review content, social media, digital media, news, sports, advertising, subscriptions and e‑commerce.
Jeff previously served as CFO of Raptive, a leading digital advertising management platform serving thousands of creators and publishers. In this role, he oversaw finance, human resources, corporate development and data teams, and led initiatives to drive growth through strategic partnerships and acquisitions. Prior to Raptor, Jeff led teams at Tumblr, Google, Yahoo, Zagat, Major League Baseball and Ernst & Young.
Gregg J. Fernandes
Print Operations
Gregg has been a valued member of The Washington Post team since 1987. As chief of print operations, he provides strategic oversight for all aspects of our print products, including advertising, distribution, and printing. Additionally, his responsibilities encompass customer care for both digital and print readers, ensuring a seamless experience across platforms. Gregg also plays a critical role in maintaining the overall security of Post personnel and facilities, as well as managing internal facilities and operations.
Jay Kennedy
General Counsel & Labor
Jay has been with The Post for more than two decades. Since 2013, he has held the position of vice president, general counsel, and labor relations. In this role, he also oversees The Post’s press freedom initiatives, and in 2016, was part of the team that worked to secure the release of journalist Jason Rezaian from an Iranian prison. His previous roles included vice president of labor relations from 2008 to 2013, and as labor and employment counsel from 2004 to 2008. Before joining The Post, Jay worked as an associate at the law firm Jones Day for nearly seven years.
Vineet Khosla
Technology, Product & Data
As The Post’s chief technology officer, Vineet drives the company’s overall vision for its technology goals and innovation. A renowned AI engineer, he has been working in the field since 2005, is the holder of two patents, the author of multiple white papers published on the subject, and is committed to advancing AI technology. Previously, Vineet created Uber's Global Maps Routing System, using cutting-edge AI tools to revolutionize navigation. The first engineering hire for Siri’s natural language engine, he also played a central role in developing the core Natural Language Understanding engine and the architectural framework that allowed Siri to operate on devices. Vineet crafted a visionary five-year plan for Siri, enabling Siri to learn from various applications.
Johanna Mayer-Jones
Advertising
As chief advertising officer, Johanna leads the global advertising business teams. She is responsible for formulating and executing strategy across client partnerships including products, audience segments (B2B, B2C, Policy Maker, Global & Regional), partnership marketing and live events. Johanna’s global experience spans strategic product development, live journalism, integrated marketing and sales. At The Post, Johanna is focused on elevating the power of news—leveraging data and technology to build trust with critical audiences and developing results-driven solutions for our clients. Johanna was previously senior vice president of partnerships at The Atlantic, and held senior sales and marketing positions at The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones in New York and Hong Kong where she led The Journal's integrated marketing and global sales teams.
Suzi Watford
Strategy
As chief strategy officer, Suzi leads the company’s strategy, aligning it across all business functions and overseeing marketing, creator network and experiences. With twenty years of experience in the media industry, Suzi joined The Post from SiriusXM, where she served as chief growth officer. Previously, Suzi was EVP and CMO at Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal, overseeing global sales and marketing for The Wall Street Journal. Leading an international team, Suzi spearheaded WSJ’s strategy, brand marketing, subscription and memberships – from students through to professional memberships and networks. Under her leadership, The Wall Street Journal reached the largest membership in its history. She was also responsible for the conferences and events business, including the creation of Journal House. Prior to Dow Jones, Suzi was with News UK where she served as sales and marketing director for The Times and The Sunday Times.
Karl Wells
Growth
Karl Wells is the chief growth officer for The Washington Post, overseeing cross-functional business growth, including B2C and B2B subscriptions, partnerships, and data and analytics. A veteran media executive, Karl has built and scaled successful businesses for startup and global media brands around the world. In his previous role as chief commercial officer for The Information, Karl led the growth of all revenue lines, including the launch of a premium subscription product, The Information Pro, the creation of a B2B licensing business, and an expansion of the advertising and events businesses. During his seven years at Dow Jones, Karl led subscription growth across all consumer brands, including The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and MarketWatch.
Founding Principles
Our mission is built on these seven Founding Principles, which remain as important today as they were when written by Eugene Meyer in 1935.
1
The first mission of a newspaper is to tell the truth as nearly as the truth may be ascertained.
2
The newspaper shall tell all the truth so far as it can learn it, concerning the important affairs of America and the world.
3
As a disseminator of the news, the paper shall observe the decencies that are obligatory upon a private person.
4
What it prints shall be fit reading for the young as well as the old.
5
The newspaper’s duty is to its readers and to the public at large, and not to the private interests of its owners.
6
In the pursuit of truth, the newspaper shall be prepared to make sacrifices of its material fortunes, if such course be necessary for the public good.
7
The newspaper shall not be the ally of any special interest, but shall be fair and free and wholesome in its outlook on public affairs and public individuals.
Recognition
The staff and affiliates of The Washington Post have won more than 70 Pulitzer Prizes for journalism since the awards started in 1917, including six gold medals for public service.
6
Public Service
2
Breaking News Reporting
3
Investigative Reporting
5
Explanatory Reporting
1
Local Investigative Specialized Reporting
9
National Reporting
9
International Reporting
4
Feature Writing
10
Commentary
11
Criticism
5
Editorial Writing
1
Breaking News Photography
3
Feature Photography
1
Illustrated Reporting and Commentary
4
Editorial Cartooning
Our History
Since our founding in 1877, The Washington Post has grown from a four-page print newspaper in the nation’s capital to a trusted source for 24/7 national and global news coverage, with a presence in 39 countries. A look back through our history tells the story of how we arrived here.
1877
Founded by Stilson Hutchins, The Washington Post begins publishing on Thursday, December 6. Printed at 914 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, the newspaper contains four pages and costs 3 cents a copy. Circulation: 10,000.
1879
Calista Halsey is hired, becoming The Post’s first female reporter.
1889
Hutchins sells The Post to Frank Hatton, a Republican Cabinet member, and Beriah Wilkins, a former Democratic congressman.
John Philip Sousa, the U.S. Marine Band leader, introduces “The Washington Post March,” which he wrote especially for the newspaper. It immediately becomes a popular hit and continues to be a marching band favorite today.
1893
The Post moves to a new building at 1335 E St. NW, next to the National Theatre.
1905
John R. McLean, owner of the Cincinnati Enquirer, buys the paper. Under his leadership, circulation and advertising increase and boost profits.
1916
McLean's son Edward, an associate of President Warren G. Harding's, becomes publisher following the death of his father. Circulation drops, advertising decreases and The Post stumbles into receivership.
1922
On January 28, a historic winter storm hits the mid-Atlantic, burying Washington, D.C. under 28 inches of snow, and causing the roof of the Knickerbocker Theater to collapse, killing 98 people.
The Post’s drama critic, John Jay Daly, is at the theatre to review a newly released comedy film for his column. He escapes injury and for the next several days, is the top reporter and writer covering the story, as the nation waits for news about the disaster.
The “Knickerbocker storm” still holds the record for the most snowfall in a single storm for Washington, D.C.
1933
On June 1, at a public auction held on the steps of The Post, the newspaper is sold for $825,000 to California-born financier Eugene Meyer. Though not an experienced newspaperman, Meyer holds strong convictions about publishing a newspaper, which he expressed in seven Founding Principles.
1933-1943
Meyer’s enlightened editorial policies and business acumen begin to turn The Post around. In the first ten years of his leadership, circulation triples to 162,000 and advertising soars.
1946
Meyer is succeeded at The Post by his son-in-law, Philip L. Graham, who had been assistant publisher.
1954
The Washington Post Co. purchases its last morning rival in the city, the Washington Times-Herald. Circulation of The Washington Post and Times-Herald jumps almost overnight to 380,000.
1959
Upon the death of Eugene Meyer, Philip Graham becomes president and publisher of the newspaper.
1963
Following the death of her husband, Philip Graham, Katharine Graham becomes president of The Washington Post Co. The first 20th century female publisher of a major American newspaper, she is also the first woman elected to the board of the Associated Press.
1968
Ben Bradlee becomes executive editor.
1970
In March, The Post’s daily circulation tops half a million for the first time.
1971
On June 18, The Post begins publishing excerpts of the “Pentagon Papers” containing allegedly secret information about the war in Vietnam. On June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court upholds the right of The Post and other newspapers to publish the Pentagon Papers.
The Washington Post Co. offers the sale of Class B common stock to the general public on the NYSE. Until then, The Post Co. had been privately held.
Katharine Graham donates radio station WTOP-FM to Howard University. On December 6, with the new call letters WHUR-FM, the station becomes the first under Black management to broadcast in the Washington metropolitan area.
1972
The Post’s news staff begins its coverage of the Watergate scandal that eventually contributes to the resignation of Richard M. Nixon as U.S. president.
1973
Katharine Graham is elected chairman of the board and chief executive officer of The Washington Post Co. while continuing as publisher of The Washington Post newspaper.
1973
After working at The Post in various editorial, production and executive capacities, Donald E. Graham, Katharine Graham’s son, is appointed executive vice president and general manager of the newspaper.
In April, “All the President’s Men” is released. The film about the Watergate scandal earns four Academy Awards and goes on to be selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
1977
The Washington Post celebrates its 100th anniversary.
1979
Donald Graham is named publisher of The Post, succeeding his mother.
1980
In April, The Post begins publishing a weekly financial tabloid section called Washington Business.
In October, the paper’s printing process is converted from hot-type method to photo-electronic or cold type composition. The new method uses video display terminals (VDTs) to write and edit stories.
The Post’s $60 million, 397,000-square-foot satellite printing plant in Springfield, Virginia, formally opens in November. The presses can produce 128-page newspapers at a rate of about 75,000 copies per hour.
1984
In the first complete redesign of the paper in 50 years, the October 9 edition of The Post reveals an emphasis on clarity, placement and reader ease.
1991
Donald Graham is named chief executive officer of The Washington Post Co., while his mother retains her corporate position of chairman of the board.
Len Downie is appointed executive editor, succeeding Ben Bradlee.
1993
Donald Graham becomes chairman of the board of The Washington Post Co.
1996
In June, The Post launches washingtonpost.com.
1998
In January, WCPX-TV in Orlando changes its call letters to WKMG-TV in honor of Katharine Meyer Graham.
1999
The Post begins printing in color at the renovated Springfield, Virginia plant and the new College Park, Maryland plant.
2000
In September, Boisfeuillet Jones Jr. is named publisher and chief executive officer of The Washington Post. Donald Graham becomes chairman of the newspaper.
2001
In July, Katharine Graham dies at the age of 84.
2001
On September 11, in the deadliest terrorist attack in history, terrorists highjack four planes and fly them into New York’s World Trade Center, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. With smoke from the Pentagon visible from The Post’s office, and the sound of fighter jets protecting the White House just blocks away, 9/11 is a local story as much as a global one.
2005
In January, the company buys Slate, the online magazine, from Microsoft Corp.
2008
In February, Katharine Weymouth is named chief executive officer of Washington Post Media and publisher of The Washington Post.
In September, Marcus Brauchli is named executive editor of The Washington Post, succeeding Leonard Downie Jr.
2010
In August, The Washington Post Co. announces the sale of Newsweek to Sidney Harman.
2013
In January, Martin Baron is named executive editor of The Washington Post.
In August, an agreement is announced to sell The Washington Post newspaper and other newspaper division assets to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, ending the Graham family’s stewardship of one of America’s leading news organizations after four generations. The sale of The Post and other newspaper division assets is completed on October 1.
2014
In September, Frederick J. Ryan Jr. is named publisher of The Washington Post, replacing former publisher Katharine Weymouth.
2015
In December, The Post moves to its new headquarters at 1301 K St. NW in Washington, D.C.
2015
In October, The Post introduces Arc Publishing, its software-as-a-service business.
2017
“The Post,” starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks as Katharine Graham and Ben Bradlee, is released. The film depicts the true story of The Post’s attempts to publish the Pentagon Papers.
2018
On October 2, Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi is brutally murdered by agents of the Saudi government. Thirty days later, The Post announces the formation of The Press Freedom Partnership, a coalition of leading nonprofit organizations working vigilantly to defend press freedom, call attention to the plight of journalists worldwide, and increase awareness of the importance of an independent media.
2019
The Post launches its TikTok account, becoming the first news organization to do so.
2020
In March, in response to the covid-19 pandemic, Post employees begin to work remotely for what is expected to be a couple of weeks, but in fact stretches to nearly two years. Throughout the pandemic, The Post continues operations at full scale.
2021
In February, Marty Baron retires as executive editor of The Washington Post.
In June, Sally Buzbee becomes the first woman to lead the newsroom as executive editor of The Post.
Washington Post Opinions establishes the Fred Hiatt internship program, in honor of the late Fred Hiatt, who led the section for more than 20 years.
In August, Post publisher and CEO Fred Ryan steps down.
2024
In January, William Lewis assumes the role of publisher and CEO.
Matt Murray becomes executive editor.
2024
In August, The Post celebrates the release of three imprisoned journalists, including Post contributor Vladimir Kara-Murza, in a historic prisoner exchange with Russia.
2024
In November, The Post launches Ask The Post AI, a generative AI experiment delivering answers to users’ questions through the world-class journalism of The Post.
2024
The Post wins the White House Correspondents Association’s 2024 Katharine Graham Award for Courage and Accountability.
2024
The Post launches “Conversations,” reimagining the commenting experience for subscribers. This exclusive, intuitive way for subscribers to engage with The Post’s journalism and expert talent pairs the power of AI with subscriber habit to add new dimensions to the commenting experience.
2025
Adam O’Neal joins The Post as Opinion Editor
2025
WP Intelligence is launched. A premium, business-to-business subscription service offering senior executives, policymakers, and analysts exclusive insights into the forces driving global change. Operating independently from The Post’s newsroom, WP Intelligence emphasizes analysis and forecasting over traditional reporting.
2025
The Post announces strategic partnerships with OpenAI, Alexa, Perplexity, and others to make high-quality news more accessible in LLMs and AI products like ChatGPT and Alexa+. As part of these partnerships, the chatbots and LLMs display summaries, quotes, and links to original reporting from The Post in response to relevant queries.
2025
Rapid innovation across other parts of the business includes:
The launch of From The Source, a feature that allows sources to annotate stories they appear in after the stories are published.
The introduction of Ripple, an all-in-one place for opinions from across America. Organized by topic, Ripple brings together voices from outside opinion writers — combining breadth and quality to help people see the full picture.
A new “Watch” tab is introduced on the Washington Post app. For the first time, users can dive into a dedicated, swipeable feed of the latest Post video journalism, for a seamless, watch-first experience.
2025
The Post begins experimenting with options for new, more flexible, ways to subscribe, with day and week passes and single article subscriptions.
