In late January 2011, a computer technician at Rupert Murdoch’s media company, News International, emailed his bosses about an unexpected halt in deleting millions of emails from the company’s archives. This pause occurred just after Scotland Yard launched a new investigation into illegal phone hacking by British journalists, requesting the preservation of evidence. However, three days later, an executive, William Lewis, gave the “green light” to proceed with the “email migration process,” resulting in the deletion of another 15 million emails. This action has been central to legal disputes about whether News International intentionally deleted emails to obstruct the police investigation into phone hacking.
Victims of phone hacking allege that these deletions were part of a cover-up to hide executives’ knowledge of the illegal activities. News International claims the deletions were routine and not intended to conceal evidence. The company has spent around $1.5 billion settling phone-hacking claims. Lewis, now CEO and publisher of The Washington Post, has denied any wrongdoing, insisting he acted appropriately.
Details about Lewis’s involvement in handling emails amid the investigation have emerged through a long-running civil case. Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for the police to investigate Lewis and former News International executive Rebekah Brooks. Some police investigators and IT workers have expressed concerns about the company’s actions during the investigation, suggesting they were obstructing justice.
In January 2011, News International hired Essential Computing to assist with the email deletions. Instructions changed from a routine migration to deleting data associated with specific executives. Some IT workers refused to carry out these unusual instructions, citing concerns about legality and incomplete data backups.
Despite the company’s claims of transparency, tensions with police grew. The company’s actions, including continuing deletions after the start of the investigation, have raised suspicions about their motives. In a dramatic turn, it was revealed that a backup of the email archive existed, allowing the recovery of some deleted emails. This backup disclosure was a “jaw-dropping moment” for investigators who believed the emails were permanently deleted.
Lewis later outlined an alleged internal security threat involving a former employee accessing emails and sharing them with Brown and another politician. However, no proof of this plot was found. News International’s handling of emails and their interactions with police have been contentious, and the company’s actions have been scrutinized in court.
Lewis’s role at The Washington Post has brought renewed attention to his involvement in the phone-hacking fallout, with ongoing debates about his actions and the company’s integrity during the scandal.
Comments from this article summarized:
General Discontent with Leadership:
- Negative View of William Lewis: Many users criticize Lewis for his past association with Murdoch, describing him as greedy, amoral, and lacking integrity. They feel his leadership taints WaPo’s reputation.
- Criticism of Jeff Bezos: Bezos is blamed for making a poor hiring decision. Users believe Bezos prioritized profit over journalistic integrity by hiring Lewis and question his overall management of WaPo.
Subscription Cancellations:
- Intentions to Cancel: Multiple users express their intention to cancel their subscriptions if Lewis remains in charge, showing a clear lack of trust and dissatisfaction with WaPo’s current direction.
- Promotional Offers: Some users mention that promotional offers are not enough to sway them back to subscribing, indicating that the issue goes beyond financial incentives.
Journalistic Integrity and Quality:
- Decline in Standards: There is a strong sentiment that WaPo’s quality has declined, especially since the departure of editors like Marty Baron. Users feel the paper has become more sensationalist and less reliable.
- Nostalgia for Past Leadership: Users express a longing for the days of Katharine Graham and Ben Bradlee, seeing them as symbols of journalistic integrity.
Comparisons and Broader Concerns:
- Comparison to Other Scandals: Lewis’ actions are compared to other political and corporate scandals, with parallels drawn to figures like Donald Trump. There’s a fear that WaPo might become like Murdoch’s tabloids.
- Impact on Democracy: Users are concerned about the broader impact on democracy, emphasizing the need for credible journalism, especially in light of upcoming political events.
Calls for Action and Alternatives:
- Demand for Lewis’ Resignation: There are widespread calls for Bezos to fire Lewis to restore the paper’s integrity. Some users suggest a complete overhaul of the leadership.
- Alternative Sources: Users mention turning to other news sources like The Atlantic and The New York Times, which they feel offer higher-quality journalism.
Broader Impact on Trust and Media Landscape:
- Loss of Trust in WaPo: The credibility and ethical standards of WaPo are seen as compromised under Lewis’ leadership. Users fear WaPo is becoming more like a sensationalist tabloid.
- Need for New Leadership: Many believe that hiring someone with no ties to Murdoch and a strong commitment to journalistic ethics is essential for WaPo’s recovery.
Specific Concerns and Insights:
- IT and Data Management: Some users with IT backgrounds criticize Lewis’ justification for deleting data during a migration strategy, viewing it as suspicious and potentially dishonest.
- Comparison to Other Media Outlets: Users note the higher standards of other publications like The Guardian, Reuters, and the BBC, and fear WaPo is drifting away from such standards.
Support for Investigative Journalism:
- Appreciation for Reporting: Despite their criticisms, some users appreciate the investigative journalism being done by WaPo staff, indicating a desire for the paper to return to its roots of high-quality reporting.
Categorized Comments
- General Discontent with Leadership
- Subscription Cancellations
- Journalistic Integrity and Quality
- Comparisons and Broader Concerns
- Calls for Action and Alternatives
- Broader Impact on Trust and Media Landscape
- Specific Concerns and Insights
- Support for Investigative Journalism
This categorization highlights the main themes and concerns expressed by users regarding the leadership and direction of The Washington Post under William Lewis and Jeff Bezos.
In July 2024, Jeff Bezos will arrive in Sun Valley, Idaho, aboard one of his two 22-seat Gulfstream G650ER jets to attend the prestigious annual gathering of America’s most powerful figures. Among those he was likely to encounter was Don Graham, the former publisher of the Washington Post, who had sold the newspaper to Bezos for $250 million in 2013. Bezos had high hopes of transforming journalism with this acquisition, but the paper has faced significant challenges, including a $77 million loss last year and a halved audience since the “Trump bump” of the late 2010s.
Adding to Bezos’s troubles is the embattled CEO of the Washington Post, William Lewis. Lewis, a former executive at Rupert Murdoch’s News International, is now under intense scrutiny following allegations related to his conduct during the phone-hacking scandal in the early 2010s. These allegations suggest that Lewis was involved in a cover-up that included the mass deletion of emails, potentially obstructing justice.
In July 2011, Scotland Yard detectives questioned Lewis about the deletion of 30 million emails at News International. Despite being instructed by the police to preserve any evidence related to phone hacking, millions of emails, including those of key executives like James Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks, were destroyed. Lewis claimed this was done to prevent the theft of Brooks’ emails by a plot allegedly orchestrated by Gordon Brown, the former British Prime Minister, a story the detectives found implausible and lacking evidence.
Gordon Brown, upon learning of these claims, demanded a new criminal investigation, describing Lewis’s story as “completely untrue” and “disturbing.” The Washington Post’s CEO’s past actions and explanations are now under intense scrutiny, with questions being raised about what Jeff Bezos and his advisors knew when hiring Lewis. Bezos, who has publicly supported journalistic integrity and ethics, now faces a crisis over the leadership at his newspaper.
The revelations continue to unravel as part of an ongoing civil lawsuit brought by Prince Harry and other phone hacking victims against Murdoch’s tabloids. Documents from this case have shed light on Lewis’s involvement and the extent of the email deletions. The situation has raised significant concerns about the integrity of the Washington Post under Lewis’s leadership and what measures Bezos will take to address these serious allegations.
ANALYSIS AND SOLUTION
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CONCLUSION
The Washington Post, a once-revered bastion of journalistic integrity, is now embroiled in a leadership crisis centered around its CEO, William Lewis. Lewis, formerly an executive at Rupert Murdoch’s News International, is under intense scrutiny for his alleged involvement in the phone-hacking scandal of the early 2010s, including the mass deletion of emails that potentially obstructed justice. These revelations have not only tainted his reputation but also cast a long shadow over The Washington Post.
Jeff Bezos, who acquired the Post with the vision of transforming journalism, now finds himself at a critical juncture. The paper has already suffered significant financial losses and a declining audience, and the controversy surrounding Lewis threatens to further erode trust and credibility. Subscribers and readers, expressing profound dissatisfaction, have called for Lewis’s resignation and a return to the paper’s core values of ethical journalism.
The revelations about Lewis’s past actions, including the deletion of millions of emails amid an investigation, have sparked a broader debate about the integrity and future of The Washington Post. As legal disputes continue and more details emerge, the pressure on Bezos to act decisively grows. The credibility of the paper, its role in upholding democratic values, and its standing in the media landscape are all at stake.
To navigate these turbulent times, decisive action is required. Bezos must address the leadership issue head-on, considering the widespread calls for change. The future of The Washington Post hinges on restoring its journalistic integrity and re-establishing the trust of its readers. Only by making these essential changes can the paper hope to reclaim its position as a pillar of credible journalism in an era where the truth is more critical than ever.
Source:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2024/06/28/william-lewis-gordon-brown-phone-hacking/
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