Washington Post Names Sally Buzbee Executive Editor

Ms. Buzbee has been the executive editor and senior vice president of the Associated Press since 2017. She topped a wide search that included interviews with a number of potential candidates.

“Sally Buzbee has an exceptional record of achievement and a tremendous wealth of experience in leading a global news organization,” said Fred Ryan, publisher and chief executive of the Washington Post.

Under Mr. Bezos’ ownership, the Washington Post expanded its focus to national and international audiences. The newsroom employed 580 people when he bought the paper; by year-end, the number is expected to reach 1,010, the most in its history.

In a memo to staffers, Mr. Ryan said that the paper began its search 10 weeks ago, noting that it wanted somebody who “shares our values of diversity and inclusion, and who is committed to prioritizing them in our news coverage as well as our hiring and promotion.”

The Post said last June that it would create more than a dozen new positions to address racial-diversity concerns and increase its coverage of race-related stories. The paper had earlier received an email from members of its union expressing thoughts on ways it could become more diverse.

Ms. Buzbee, who will start June 1, has a broad journalism background that includes serving earlier as the AP’s Middle East bureau chief. Late last year, the Post announced its intentions to expand its international operations, an area where Ms. Buzbee has extensive experience.

She also previously served as the AP’s Washington bureau chief, overseeing coverage of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections, according to the Post memo.

Corrections & Amplifications
Sally Buzbee has been named to succeed Martin Baron as executive editor of the Washington Post. An earlier version of this article incorrectly spelled his last name as Barron. (Corrected on May 11)

Write to Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg at [email protected]