Media Revenue: Former Gates Foundation CEO Patty Stonesifer to become CEO Washington Post, a Major Reset in Tumultuos Moment

Patty Stonesifer is very close with Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates — the founding CEO of the Gates Foundation and a philanthropy advisor to Jeff. Now, Patty to be CEO interim Washington Post, Fred Ryan remains as publisher until his departure in August 1st, 2023.

Patty Stonesifer speaks to the newsroom for the first time, with editorial editor David Shipley (l), current publisher Fred Ryan (blue tux), and executive editor Sally Buzbee. Patty Stonesifer told staffers she anticipated staying on for up to a year and that she would remain on Amazon's board of directors. She also said there was "nothing in the plans" re: more layoffs. Ryan to lead a new center at the Reagan Foundation. At least in the last 2 months, painful layoff in media, such as Buzzfeed, NPR, and 6 days ago Los Angeles Times. WaPo also facing tumultuous past year where he (Fred Ryan) clashed with staff on job cuts.

Jeff Bezos has been much more involved these past couple of months--doing calls every other week. Much more engaged. Patty Stonesifer married to journalist Michael Kinsley.

(my writing about Davos)

As a Microsoft vice president, Patty had managed the Microsoft news portion of the MSNBC merger, which included Slate.

Chris Hayes, Alex Wagner, and Lawrence O’Donnell all won their respective hours between 8 and 11 p.m. in both total viewers and in the key 25-54 age demographic.

MSNBC led prime time averages with 2.43 million total viewers, followed closely by Fox News’s 2.15 million. CNN landed in third place with 1.13 million total viewers — a major boost for the network.

In the demo, MSNBC won prime time with 342,000 viewers, beating CNN’s 256,000. Fox News landed third with 231,000 prime time demo viewers as the network continues to regain viewers lost after Tucker Carlson, who often led cable news in the demo, was fired.

Fox News still won the day in total day demo and total viewer averages.

With have experience on MSNBC merger, Patty is solid choice for Washington Post to boost revenue.

Here are the prime time averages — encompassing shows which air from 8-11 p.m. — in total viewers and the 25-54 demo.

Total viewers:

CNN: 1.13 million

Fox News: 2.15 million

MSNBC: 2.43 million

25-54 Demo:

CNN: 256,000

Fox News: 231,000

MSNBC: 342,000

Running the Washington Post (interim basis) won't be Patty Stonesifer's first DC gig. She also ran a local soup kitchen, a job she took AFTER running the largest charity in the world, the Gates Foundation. Patty has been named one of 25 Most Influential People in America by Time Magazine -- to run a humble and fantastic non-profit Martha's Table in D.C. We will be in good hands during this transition.

Stonesifer appears to remain in Gates's orbit; she's listed as active a board member on Gates's $50m project. Gates Foundation actually has long shadow at WaPo. Melinda used to sit on the Post's board. So did Warren Buffett (he's a major donor to Gates Foundation). These institutional ties bear scrutiny. For the sake of independent-transparency, WaPo (MUST) clearly explains why it picked Stonesifer.

On Pulitzer, WaPo this year (May 8th, 2023) celebrates three Pulitzers, with winners Toluse Olorunnipa and Robert Samuels (left of pillar), Eli Saslow (checked shirt) and Caroline Kitchener (brown dress), applauded by Executive Editor Sally Buzbee. WaPo also had finalists Monica Hesse (commentary), Terry McCoy (foreign), the podcast Broken Doors and public service for our fentanyl coverage. And Tolu and Robert were a finalist for biography in addition to winning for non-fiction. That’s a haul.

Major investigation by WaPo in last 2 weeks, WaPo found that Ukraine itself sabotage Nord Stream, not Russia.

With Fred Ryan's exit and Patty Stonesifer's hire comes a different shakeup: Once ME Cameron Barr retires at the end of June and incoming ME Matea Gold assumes her role in September, nearly all of the Washington Post’s leaders will be women.

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-prada- is a Helper. Former adviser (President Indonesia) Jokowi for mapping 2-times election. I used to get paid to catch all these blunders—now I do it for free. Trying to work out what's going on, what happens next. Arch enemies of the tobacco industry, (still) survive after getting doxed.

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