Washington Post editor in chief stepped down after clashing with CEO

Sally Buzbee, editor-in-chief of The Washington Post abruptly resigned Sunday, weeks after her relationship with the company’s chief executive, Will Lewis, deteriorated

In mid-May, Buzbee clashed with Lewis over whether to publish a story about Lewis' British hacking scandal.

According to sources, Buzbee informed Lewis that the newsroom planned to cover a judge’s upcoming ruling in a long-running British legal case involving Prince Harry and others against Rupert Murdoch’s tabloids.

The judge was expected to decide whether Lewis’s name could be added to a list of executives accused of concealing hacking evidence. Lewis argued that the case did not merit coverage, but Buzbee insisted on publishing the article.

This interaction unsettled Buzbee, who sought advice from confidants outside The Post. The Post published the article when the judge ruled on May 21 that Lewis could be added to the case.

Although Lewis did not prevent its publication, the incident weighed heavily on Buzbee as she contemplated her future at the paper.