NEW YORK (AP) — The Washington Post’s newly appointed editor, Robert Winnett, has decided not to assume his role, opting to remain in England. This decision, announced on Friday, marks another upheaval at the news outlet, where recent events have gone disastrously wrong. Winnett had been the subject of several published reports that questioned whether his ethical standards aligned with those of American journalists. The Post’s CEO and publisher announced Winnett’s decision in a note to staff and stated that a recruitment firm would be immediately hired to search for a replacement. The financially struggling Post had announced that Winnett would take over as editor of the core newsroom functions after November’s presidential election. Concurrently, the Post was setting up a “third newsroom” dedicated to finding new ways for its journalism to generate revenue. Three weeks ago, then-executive editor Sally Buzbee said she would quit rather than accept a demotion to head this revenue-enhancement effort. Besides Winnett’s hiring, former Wall Street Journal editor Matt Murray was brought on as her interim replacement and future leader of the “third newsroom.” Since then, several published reports had raised questions about the journalistic ethics of both Lewis and Winnett stemming from their work in England. For example, both men collaborated on a series of scoops about extravagant spending by British politicians, fueled by information they paid a data information company for—a practice frowned upon by American journalists. The New York Times reported that both Winnett and Lewis were involved in stories that appeared to be based on fraudulently obtained phone and business records. This sparked a newsroom revolt at The Post. David Maraniss, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner who has worked at the newspaper for four decades, said this week that he didn’t know anyone there who thought the situation with the publisher and “supposed new editor” could stand. “The body is rejecting the transfusion,” Maraniss wrote on Facebook. Lewis, a former Wall Street Journal publisher and vice chairman of The Associated Press’ board of directors, was hired by billionaire owner Jeff Bezos to stem a costly exodus of readers. The Post had reported a loss of $77 million last year. In a memo to key staff members earlier this week, Bezos assured them that journalistic standards and ethics at the newspaper would not change. “I know you’ve already heard this from Will, but I wanted to also weigh in directly,” he wrote. “To be sure, it can’t be business as usual at The Post,” Bezos wrote. “The world is evolving rapidly, and we do need to change as a business.” In his Facebook note, Maraniss said that the issue for staff members is integrity, not resistance to change. It remains to be seen whether Lewis can gain staff support to survive himself. “I think the deal is Will Lewis stays, for now,” former Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan said in a message on X Friday. “Winnett’s pre-ouster is the sacrifice/compromise. Was his tenure even less than a single Scaramucci?” Lewis said Friday that the recruitment firm and process for replacing Winnett will be announced soon. Winnett’s sudden hiring—without any indication of an extensive search—had also rankled staff members. Lewis said that the reorganization efforts would continue, albeit delayed. He mentioned that the “third newsroom” would be operational early next year. Winnett is staying at the Telegraph in London. Telegraph editor Chris Evans told that newspaper, “He’s a talented chap, and their loss is our gain,” according to the Guardian. ___ Associated Press correspondent Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report. David Bauder writes about media for The Associated Press. Follow him at .