In a move that has sparked skepticism and concern among staff, The Washington Post's publisher, Will Lewis, announced significant changes to the newsroom's structure and leadership. Lewis, who took over as publisher and CEO earlier this year, forced out Executive Editor Sally Buzbee on Sunday night, effective immediately.

At a staff meeting on Monday, Lewis unveiled a new bifurcated structure for the newsroom, which will be led by former colleagues from the Telegraph in the UK and The Wall Street Journal. Former Journal Editor-in-chief Matt Murray will assume the role of leading the Washington Post newsroom through the upcoming general election in November.

However, Lewis's decision to appoint his acquaintances as the heads of the newsroom has drawn criticism, with concerns being raised about cronyism and a lack of diversity. Journalist Ashley Parker pointed out that the leadership team now consists of four white men, including Lewis, Murray, newsroom leader Rob Winnett, and opinion section editor David Shipley.

During the meeting, Lewis acknowledged the calls for diversity within the newsroom and admitted that the lack of representation was his responsibility. He urged the staffers to work with him and assured them that he had heard their concerns "loud and clear".

Lewis also highlighted the need for the Washington Post to adapt and make significant changes to its current strategies. The paper reportedly experienced losses of $77 million last year, leading to layoffs of nearly 13% of staff. Lewis stressed that the paper was in dire need of a turnaround, emphasizing the decline in its audience and the need to address the paper's handling of social media.

Apart from the restructured newsroom, Lewis announced the creation of a new division called the "third newsroom." This division will focus on generating new revenue streams, including micropayments for individual articles, coverage of climate and wellness, and exploring new forms of journalism such as video narratives on social media.

Lewis's appointment of Murray and Winnett, both with extensive editorial experience, shows his intention to bring in seasoned professionals with a track record of success. However, staff members expressed dismay over the drastic changes and what it implies about Lewis's leadership and vision for the newspaper.

This announcement comes after Lewis hired Karl Wells as the Washington Post's chief growth officer, bringing in another former colleague from his tenure at Rupert Murdoch's newspapers. Wells previously worked with Lewis at Dow Jones and The Sun.

Lewis concluded the meeting by acknowledging that it did not go as smoothly as expected and promised a follow-up to address any concerns and shortcomings.

The changes in leadership and structure at The Washington Post amid concerns over diversity and cronyism highlight the challenges that lie ahead for Lewis as he strives to reshape the newspaper and steer it towards success.