After nine years at the helm, Fred Ryan, CEO and publisher of the Washington Post, is departing to lead the Center on Public Civility at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. This announcement comes as the Post grapples with a shrinking online subscriber base and a wave of staff departures.

In an internal memo, owner Jeff Bezos expressed gratitude for Ryan's leadership during a period of growth and journalistic achievement. Ryan, in his own memo to staff, cited a growing concern about the decline in civility in public discourse as his motivation for leaving. He revealed that Bezos is personally funding the initial stages of the new civility center.

The Post has seen a significant drop in digital subscribers since the end of the Trump administration, losing roughly one-sixth of its 3 million subscribers from January 2021. An inside source suggests Bezos may be seeking new leadership to address this decline and other challenges. The departure of senior managing editor Cameron Barr adds to the growing list of high-profile exits, which includes other editors and reporters like Steven Ginsburg, David Malitz, David Fahrenthold, Eli Saslow, and several C-suite executives. This exodus has reportedly left some within the Post feeling adrift.

Patty Stonesifer, a director on the Amazon board and a close associate of Bezos, has been appointed interim CEO and will oversee the search for Ryan’s successor. This change in leadership follows internal turmoil, including staff outrage over Ryan's handling of layoffs last year. He was criticized for refusing to answer questions during a town hall meeting announcing the job cuts.