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Jill Abramson has been named the first female executive editor of The New York Times, replacing Bell Keller who is stepping down to become a full-time writer for the paper, The New York Times reports.
"It’s meaningful to me," Abramson said of her new role. "You stand on the shoulders of those who came before you, and I couldn’t be prouder to be standing on Bill’s shoulders."
Abramson joined The New York Times in 1997 after her nine-year gig as deputy bureau chief and investigative reporter with The Wall Street Journal. By 1999, she was appointed Washington editor and then named Washington bureau chief in 2000.
Former Los Angles Times editor,Dean Baquet, remembered mostly for refusing to cut staff, resulting in problems with the paper’s owners, will be replacing Abramson as The New York Times' assistant managing editor and Washington bureau chief. Baquet, who some consider Abramson’s serious competition, says there was never a competitive dynamic between them.
“Jill played a big role in bringing me back to the paper after I unceremoniously left the L.A. Times,” he said. “I always thought the competitive thing was too overblown. It was too easy a story line. For the last four years, she’s been my boss. And she’s my friend. Of course we can work together.”
Keller, the soon-to-be former editor, believes strongly in the new duo, their experience, and abilities.
“Jill and Dean together is a powerful team,” Keller said. “Jill’s been my partner in keeping The Times strong through years of tumult. At her right hand she will have someone who ran a great American newspaper, and ran it through tough times. That’s a valuable skill to have.”
New positions will take effect September 6.
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