The Floundering Washington Post Says AI Will Save It. But They Don't Share How.
Amid plunging web traffic and disastrous finances, the new CEO plans to embrace the future and more revenue streams.
The CEO and publisher of the Washington Post, Will Lewis, recently gathered staff members to update them on the legacy papers struggles and plans for future.
Lewis revealed that the Post lost $77 million in 2023, and seen a dramatic 50% drop in audience since the highs of 2020, when the pandemic and the Trump administration delivered sky-high numbers for traditional media outlets.
To counter the downward spiral, Lewis said they were planning additional subscription tiers, called Post Pro and Post Plus, targeting professionals and committed readers with additional products featuring deeper insights, including a forthcoming newsletter focused on the climate and economy. The model is based Axios and Politico, who have “Pro” plans that they charge for, on top of the free tiers and products.
The paper's chief technology officer added that going forward, the Post will have "AI everywhere in our newsroom," according to Semafor's Max Tani. It is not known, however, what exactly that directive will entail and how it will affect the newsroom and jobs going forward.