British journalist backs out of Washington Post top job

British journalist Robert Winnett will not become editor-in-chief of The Washington Post, the daily said on Friday, a decision taken against a backdrop of disputes over editorial practice.

Winnett currently serves as deputy editor of the Telegraph Media Group, which oversees the London-based Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph.

Will Lewis, the managing director and publisher of The Washington Post, informed the newspaper's editorial staff of Winnett's decision "with regret," according to the daily, which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Lewis had tapped Winnett, a former colleague in Britain, to drastically remake the once-powerful Post, which is suffering heavy financial losses and bleeding readership.

Winnett's withdrawal followed a Washington Post article alleging that, while working for the Sunday Times, he had hired an actor to obtain confidential information.

The actor reportedly used false identities and deceived potential sources to gather information. Winnett has not commented on the accusations.

The actor, John Ford, also implicated Lewis among his contacts.

The New York Times separately reported that in 2004, Lewis, then a business editor, had asked a Sunday Times journalist to write an article based on illegally obtained telephone recordings.

According to the Times, Lewis also attempted to discourage several US-based journalists, including those at The Washington Post, from covering a UK legal case in which he was involved.

He is alleged to have helped to conceal evidence of fraudulent practices, including illegal phone tapping, within Rupert Murdoch's News Corp group.

Lewis, who assumed his position in January, reportedly pressured the Post's previous editor-in-chief, Sally Buzbee, who unexpectedly stepped down this month, paving the way for Winnett's appointment.