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Jill Abramson is out as executive editor of the New York Times: New man in charge today

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By Noel Young, Correspondent

May 15, 2014 | 4 min read

Jill Abramson is OUT as executive editor of the New York Times after less than three years. The move stunned the media world yesterday.

Abramson : Out after less than three years

Replacing her today is No. 2 in the newsroom, Dean Baquet, who was himself fired as ediitor of the Los Angeles Times after refusing to cut staff.

New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. told employees at a quickly-called meeting that he chose a new editor "because I believe that new leadership will improve some aspects of the management of the newsroom," according to his prepared remarks, which were provided by a spokeswoman, said CNN.

Sulzberger said his decision to replace Abramson was "not about the quality of our journalism" or "any disagreement over the direction of our digital future." The Times report itself did not mince words.

It quoted Sulzberger saying 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. But people in the company briefed on the situation described serious tensions in her relationship with Sulzberger, many of them over his concerns about her management. Her style has been described as mercurial and brusque. They had disagreements even before she was appointed executive editor, and she had also had clashes with Baquet.

In recent weeks, Baquet reportedly had become angered over a decision by Abramson to try to hire an editor from The Guardian, Janine Gibson, and install her alongside . Baquet in a co-managing editor position without consulting him. "It escalated the conflict between them and rose to the attention of Mr. Sulzberger, who was already concerned about her style of newsroom management.," said the Times,

A NYT spokeswoman confirmed that Abramson will not remain at the newspaper. Baquet, who has been Abramson's deputy since 2011, will become executive editor immediately.

At the staff meeting, Sulzberger quoted Abramson's predecessor, Bill Keller, who once said of Baquet that he possessed "infectious enthusiasm and aggressive intelligence."

"I agree," Sulzberger said. "Combine that with a passion for journalism, investigative and otherwise; a fierce loyalty to the editors and reporters he leads; and a competitive spirit that inspires all around him to do better. That's Dean Baquet, the executive editor of The New York Times."

Abramson was the first female executive editor of The New York Times. Baquet is its first African American editor.

Baquet was the Washington bureau chief for The New York Times before he moved to New York to become Abramson's deputy. He joined the paper after being forced out at The Los Angeles Times, where he was editor. in 2006. Baquet had told the publisher of that newspaper that he would not make further cuts to the newsroom staff.

According to staff members who attended Wednesday's announcement in The New York Times newsroom, Baquet said he would be a "hands-on" executive editor who would walk the aisles and talk with reporters and editors.

In a statement provided by The New York Times, Abramson said she had loved her time there.

"We successfully blazed trails on the digital frontier and we have come so far in inventing new forms of story-telling," she said.

"Our masthead became half female for the first time and so many great women hold important newsroom positions. Dean has been my partner in all this and he will be a great executive editor. I thank Arthur, who has been a steadfast protector of our journalism, for the chance to serve," Abramson added.

There was no mention in the report of what role if any former BBC chief Mark Thompson now the Times chief executive might have played in Abramson's ousting. But there were indications that he too had clashed with Abramson.

Equal pay was also said to be an issue. Abramson was reported to be angry that she had been appointed at a salary substantially less than hr predecessor, Bill Keller.

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