New York Times names first woman executive editor

Jill Abramson was named the first woman executive editor of The New York Times on Thursday, taking the reins of the prestigious newspaper as it seeks to plot a course in the digital era. Abramson, 57, a native New Yorker, replaces Bill Keller, 62, who took over as executive editor of the Times in 2003 in the wake of the Jayson Blair fabrication scandal. Abramson joined the Times in 1997 from The Wall Street Journal and has been managing editor since 2003. She became the newspaper's Washington editor in 1999 and Washington bureau chief in 2000. The Times said current Washington bureau chief Dean Baquet, a former editor of The Los Angeles Times, would replace Abramson as managing editor. Keller will return to being a full-time writer for the newspaper. He recently started penning a column for The New York Times magazine and the Times said he will also write for a new Sunday opinion and news section, The Sunday Review. Abramson takes over the top editorial position at the Times at a challenging time for the newspaper industry, which has been grappling with declining print advertising revenue and circulation and the migration of readers to free news online. The Times began charging readers in late March for full access to NYTimes.com in a bid to boost online revenue, a move that is being closely watched by other American newspapers seeking to increase their digital dollars. Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger said he had "mixed emotions" about Keller's decision to step down but "without question, Jill is the best person to succeed Bill in the role of executive editor." "Bill came to me several weeks ago and told me that he felt the time had come for him to step down," Sulzberger said in a statement. "I accepted his decision with mixed emotions "An accomplished reporter and editor, Jill is the perfect choice to lead the next phase of The Times's evolution into a multiplatform news organization deeply committed to journalistic excellence," Sulzberger said. "Over the past year, she has immersed herself in our digital strategy and led the effort to fully integrate the newsroom," he said. "This Web integration has made us a better news organization, able to maintain our high journalistic standards while adjusting our approach to the dissemination of news." Abramson told the newspaper that being appointed executive editor was like "ascending to Valhalla" and becoming the first woman named to the post in the 160-year history of the newspaper was "meaningful to me." "I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the editorial direction of The New York Times," the Harvard-educated Abramson said. "It's a dream job for any journalist and one that I am deeply honored to be asked to serve in." Keller said it has been a "privilege to work alongside the world's finest journalists during these exhilarating years of tumult and transformation. "I wanted to move on when the newsroom felt strong in its journalism and secure in its future," he said. The Times said the appointments would be effective September 6.