The New York Times announced on Monday a restructured masthead and some key newsroom appointments, while also saying that the staff reductions the company was seeking had been accomplished primarily through voluntary buyouts.
In a memo to the staff, Jill Abramson, the executive editor, outlined many of the coming changes at the paper, saying she hopes they will help The Times continue “to meet the challenges of remaking ourselves for the digital age.â€
Ms. Abramson acknowledged in her memo that this round of staff reductions seemed different from previous ones, because it resulted in the loss of some of the most prominent editors at the paper. Among those choosing to take buyout packages were John M. Geddes, a managing editor, Jim Roberts, assistant managing editor, and Jonathan Landman, the head of the culture department.
Ms. Abramson also presented plans for a newly transformed masthead. Larry Ingrassia, the former business editor, will become an assistant managing editor for new intiatives, which includes the expansion of The Times’s international coverage. Janet Elder will become an assistant managing editor with responsibility for overseeing newsroom resources, including the budget, as well as dealing with compensation and staff development. Ian Fisher will become an assistant managing editor for content operations, with responsibility for overseeing the continued integration of the digital and print sides of The Times.
Jason Stallman, a deputy sports editor, will be the new sports editor, replacing Joe Sexton, who announced last week he was moving to Pro Publica. Ms. Abramson said she would announce the new culture editor in the next two weeks.
Rick Berke, currently an assistant managing editor, will now focus on video, an area the company has been trying to expand. Glenn Kramon, another assistant managing editor, will join the business department to oversee technology coverage.
In early December, Ms. Abramson said The Times was seeking 30 managers who a! re not union members to accept buyout packages. The company also allowed employees represented by the Newspaper Guild the chance to volunteer for buyout packages as well. Employees had until last Thursday to decide whether to choose the buyout.
Ms. Abramson said at the time that if the paper did not get the required number of volunteers that the company would have to resort to layoffs. But her note to the staff Monday indicated that layoffs were kept to a minimum.
