New York: In an abrupt move, the New York Times has sacked its first female executive editor Jill Abramson and named paper’s managing editor Dean Baquet in her place, making him the first African-American to hold the post.
The change of leadership was announced by publisher of the paper and chairman of The New York Times Company Arthur Sulzberger, who told a “stunned newsroom” that he had made the decision because of “an issue with management in the newsroom.”
Abramson, 60, had been in the job only since September 2011. A report in the NYT said according to people briefed on the situation, there was serious tension in Abramson’s relationship with Sulzberger, who had concerns about complaints from employees that she was polarising and mercurial. In recent weeks, Baquet had also become angered over a decision by Abramson to offer a job to a senior editor from The Guardian, Janine Gibson, as co-managing editor without consulting him. The decision to dismiss Abramson was made by Sulzberger earlier this month and he informed Baquet of his promotion last week, according to the people briefed on the situation.
The editorial upheaval comes in a crucial year for The Times, which had to shed assets like The Boston Globe and About.com. In accepting the job, Baquet, 57, said, “I will listen hard, I will be hands on, I will be engaged.” (Agencies)
