Journalist-turned-media executive faces backlash for past role at News Corp

  • William Lewis, publisher of the Washington Post, is facing criticism for his past work at News Corp during a phone-hacking scandal
  • Lewis is accused of concealing information that could implicate senior News Corp managers
  • The ongoing court case threatens to complicate Lewis’s efforts to turn around the Washington Post
  • Lewis’s career was shaped by his involvement in the phone-hacking scandal, which elevated his profile within News Corp
  • Lewis eventually became CEO of Dow Jones, where he helped boost digital subscriptions

When Jeff Bezos named William Lewis as publisher of the Washington Post, he praised him as a forward-looking leader. However, Lewis’s past work at News Corp during a phone-hacking scandal is now causing problems. He is accused of concealing information that could implicate senior News Corp managers, and a court case related to the hacking is ongoing. This threatens to complicate Lewis’s efforts to turn around the Washington Post, which has been struggling financially. Despite the controversy, Lewis’s involvement in the phone-hacking scandal elevated his profile within News Corp and eventually led to him becoming CEO of Dow Jones, where he helped boost digital subscriptions.·

Factuality Level: 2
Factuality Justification: The article contains a mix of relevant and irrelevant information, including details about the individual’s past that are not directly related to his current role at the Washington Post. It includes information about a past scandal and ongoing legal proceedings that may not be directly relevant to his current performance. The article also includes some biased language and presents some information in a sensationalized manner.·
Noise Level: 2
Noise Justification: The article provides a detailed account of Will Lewis’s past, focusing on his involvement in the phone-hacking scandal and his career progression within News Corp. However, the article lacks a clear connection to the current role of Lewis as the publisher of the Washington Post and does not offer much analysis or insights into the implications of his past on his current position.·
Public Companies: News Corp (NWSA)
Private Companies: Dow Jones
Key People: William Lewis (Publisher of the Washington Post), Jeff Bezos (Hired William Lewis to become publisher of the Washington Post), Rupert Murdoch (Media Mogul, Founder of News Corp), Lex Fenwick (Former Chief Executive of Dow Jones), David Cameron (Former U.K. Prime Minister)


Financial Relevance: No
Financial Markets Impacted: No
Financial Rating Justification: This article does not pertain to financial topics and does not discuss any events that impact financial markets or companies.·
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no mention of any extreme event in the article. The article primarily focuses on the career and past experiences of William Lewis, the publisher of the Washington Post, and his involvement in a phone-hacking scandal. There is no information provided regarding any extreme events or their impact.·

Reported publicly: www.wsj.com