NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 16, 2012--
The
New York Times announced today that Margaret M. Sullivan, currently
editor and vice president of The Buffalo News, will succeed Arthur S.
Brisbane as public editor on September 1, 2012. Ms. Sullivan is the
fifth public editor appointed by The Times.
The role of the public editor is to represent readers and respond to
their concerns, critique Times journalism and increase transparency and
understanding about how the institution operates. With the vast changes
in journalism in recent years, the new public editor will seek new
avenues for that mission. Ms. Sullivan will continue to write a print
column, but she will focus on a more active online role: as the
initiator, orchestrator and moderator of an ongoing conversation about
The Times’s journalism. That conversation will center on a blog and Web
page on NYTimes.com, along with an active social media presence.
Jill Abramson, executive editor of The New York Times, said, “Margaret
has exactly the right experience to assume this critical role for us at
this time. She has an impressive 32-year background in print journalism
where she has distinguished herself as a reporter, columnist, editor and
manager. And critically for us at this time, she has shown adeptness at
embracing new platforms and engaging and interacting with readers in
real time online, in print and in person.”
Ms. Sullivan has served as editor of The Buffalo News for the past 12
years, where she supervised the editorial operations of the largest
newspaper in upstate New York along with the region’s leading news Web
site. She began her career at the paper in 1980 as a reporter and metro
columnist and subsequently was assistant city editor, assistant managing
editor for features and managing editor, before being named editor in
1999.
Ms. Sullivan is a graduate of Georgetown University and holds an M.S.J.
from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
The public editor will remain an independent voice, working outside of
the reporting and editing structure of the newsroom. Like public editors
before her, Ms. Sullivan will report to the publisher, Arthur Sulzberger
Jr.
About The New York Times Company
The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), a leading global, multimedia
news and information company with 2011 revenues of $2.3 billion,
includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The
Boston Globe, NYTimes.com,
BostonGlobe.com,
Boston.com,
About.com
and related properties. The Company’s core purpose is to enhance society
by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information
and entertainment.
This press release can be downloaded from www.nytco.com
Source: The New York Times Company
The New York Times Company
Eileen Murphy, 212-556-1982
eileen.murphy@nytimes.com