Washington Post Shake-Up Renews Attention on U.K. Phone Hacking

In 2011, Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, News Corporation, faced a serious threat in Britain. Reporters at one of his tabloid newspapers were exposed for hacking the phones of celebrities, private citizens, and even a murdered child for information.

Additional wrongdoings came to light, including the revelation that tabloid reporters had been paying for information from police officers and government officials for years.

In an effort to halt the scandal and satisfy prosecutors in Britain and beyond, News Corp appointed Will Lewis, a former editor of The Daily Telegraph, to address the situation.

He took action by cooperating with authorities, exposing misconduct, and steering the operation in a new direction. However, some former colleagues and hacking victims believed that he assisted News Corp in concealing the full extent of the wrongdoing.

Accusations from nearly 15 years ago, which remain unproven, have resurfaced and complicated Mr. Lewis’s new role as publisher of The Washington Post.

Recent legal developments in the hacking case have raised concerns, as a judge ruled that victims could pursue further allegations in their lawsuit. While Mr. Lewis is not a defendant, the lawsuit claims that his cleanup efforts were, in part, a cover-up to shield News Corp leaders.

Mr. Lewis faced unexpected challenges this week when The Post’s executive editor resigned ahead of his restructuring plans. Additionally, reports emerged that he had criticized the coverage of the hacking case and made offers to prevent certain articles from being pursued.

The newsroom overhaul led by Mr. Lewis has raised questions among reporters about his leadership, hiring decisions, and ethical standards. Some are uncertain about whether he will bring new journalistic values to The Washington Post.

The phone-hacking scandal that rocked Britain involved tabloid journalists hacking into the phones of various individuals to obtain information. The aftermath included extensive inquiries, legal actions, and the closure of a News Corp-owned newspaper.

Before his involvement in the scandal, Mr. Lewis was known for his work at The Daily Telegraph, where he uncovered a scandal related to politicians’ expense accounts. His transition to News Corp in 2010 placed him at the center of addressing the fallout from the phone-hacking revelations.

While Mr. Lewis maintained that his role was to rectify the situation and uphold journalistic integrity, allegations of a cover-up arose. Phone-hacking victims claimed that he allowed the deletion of incriminating emails and ignored evidence that could implicate senior executives.

Despite the accusations, Mr. Lewis denied any wrongdoing, as multiple lawsuits surrounding the hacking scandal continue.

Following the resurgence of allegations, Mr. Lewis’s candidacy for a prominent media position in Britain was derailed. He ascended within News Corp but faced backlash from staff members for his handling of the scandal.

His recent endeavors at The Washington Post have been met with challenges, as his decisions regarding restructuring and editorial coverage have raised concerns among the newsroom staff.

Recent incidents involving disagreements with the executive editor and attempts to influence news coverage have cast a shadow over Mr. Lewis’s leadership at The Post. His actions have sparked debates about journalistic ethics and transparency within the organization.