WSJ announces revised editorial leadership
Managing editor Robert Thomson announced a major phase of News Corp.’s makeover of The Wall Street Journal today, realigning three top editors into a “triumvirate” that will “expedite decision making and give increased authority and responsibility to reporters and bureau chiefs.”
The Journal, traditionally an editor’s newspaper, will also create a central news desk to enhance cooperation between its print, Web, and Dow Jones Newswires reporters, according to a Thomson memo to news staffers.
News Corp. chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch said at a conference last month that the number of editors working on the average Journal story (8.3) is “ridiculous.”
Here’s a rundown of the changes:
- Matt Murray will become national editor; Nikhil Deogun will become international editor, and Mike Williams will oversee what Thomson calls a “broadened page one.” All three will also take on the title deputy managing editor. Gawker reported earlier this month that Williams would become a “roving features editor.”
- Mike Miller will become senior deputy managing editor, responsible for the newspaper if Thomson is unavailable.
- Cathy Panagoulias and Jim Pensiero will become deputy managing editors.
- Alan Murray remains executive editor of the Journal Online, and also takes the title of deputy managing editor.
- Alix Freedman will receive expanded authority as “defender of the paper’s ethical and journalistic standards.”
- Deputy managing editor Dan Hertzberg will take responsibility for the Journal’s European and Asian editions.
- Reg Chua will become senior assistant managing editor, overseeing the design team.
- Greg Ip, Journal Federal Reserve reporter, is leaving the newspaper to join The Economist, according to media reports.
