• by Ray Schultz , July 8, 2024

Matt Murray -- who was to serve as executive editor of The Washington Post until after the Presidential election, and then head a project called the Third Newsroom -- has announced that Post veteran Krissah Thompson will work the latter effort.

This follows Robert Winnett’s decision to remain at the Daily Telegraph and not join the Post as editor after the U.S. election in November, following a growing uproar over allegations that Winnett and Post CEO Will Lewis did stories based on stolen records while working at UK's The Sunday Times.

Thompson is a Post managing editor who has overseen such initiatives as Deep Reads and the Style relaunch. According to Matt Murray’s internal note, she will run the newsroom process building the third newsroom.

“With a task force she is currently forming and expects to have in place this week, and input from across the newsroom colleagues from the commercial side, she will helm our effort to set up the structure and plans for this next era of growth for The Post,” Murray says. “In taking on this assignment, Krissah will temporarily step back from most daily duties.”

The Third Newsroom will focus on serving Americans who disdain traditional news, providing them with news where they are, in the style they want, the Post says. 

Murray and Winnett were named as part of a shift that involved Sally Buzbee stepping down as executive editor.