British journalist backs out of taking top Washington Post job amid ethics concerns

Lisa Desjardins:

The latest issue surrounds Robert Winnett, a British journalist who was to take over as the paper’s top editor in November. Over the weekend, The Post and The New York Times published stories tying Winnett to multiple instances of using practices in the U.K. seen as unethical in this country, including fraudulently obtaining phone and other data.

Today, The Post announced he is out. Winnett was handpicked by the paper’s new publisher and CEO, William Lewis, who is also a British journalist and is also facing scrutiny and calls to resign.

For more, we’re joined by Margaret Sullivan, executive director for Columbia Journalism School’s Newmark Center and a former columnist with The Post.

To help our audience, I want to lay out what’s been reported about Robert Winnett. He is a longtime investigative journalist. Now, The Post found a former source had written that Winnett helped cover up some clandestine activity, and The Post looked at his past stories and found that he may have used illegal means in his reporting as well.

Now, Winnett has not responded publicly to these stories and allegations. As he is out and the publisher, his mentor, facing the same scrutiny, is still in, both of these men have long journalistic records. Are these transgressions enough to say they should not be leading The Post?