The same sources hear that Liz Spayd could become the first managing editor of Washington Post Media, which means she would oversee help both the newspaper and washingtonpost.com. Spayd seems perfectly suited for the merged role. She rose from reporter to national news chief, then crossed the Potomac to direct political news at washingtonpost.com.
Spayd could not be reached to comment.
What’s beyond speculation is that Post publisher Katharine Weymouth has told managers she hopes to trim $85 million from the Post’s operating budget over the next two years. That amounts to about 5 percent of the annual expenses. In meetings after Weymouth handed down a “strategic framework” letter last week, editors have told reporters that the news hole will shrink as more stories are published on washingtonpost.com. There will be few new hires, if any. Another round of buyouts should be expected. To save on newsprint, the size of the newspaper will shrink and the newsprint will be thinner.
A good time was had by all at Thursday night’s party for Brauchli at the Georgetown home of Ben Bradlee and Sally Quinn, but the $85 million in coming cuts—roughly 10 percent of the newspaper division’s expenses—was on the minds of many in the room.
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