Robert Thomson
Hands Still Wringing at Journal As Robert 'Head of Content' Thomson Takes Reins
For the past two weeks, Robert Thomson, publisher of The Wall Street Journal, has been busy not being the paper’s editor.
It hasn’t been easy. Since April 22, when Marcus Brauchli resigned as the newspaper’s managing editor, Mr. Thomson, who was forced to describe himself in an interview with The New York Times as the interim “head of content” for the paper, has had nine meetings (in person and on conference calls) to soothe the fraying nerves of his orphaned editorial staff.
“There was a real panic here for a few days when Marcus left,” said one reporter. read more »
Robert Thomson Dials Journal Back to 0.0
When Robert Thomson met with the reporters and editors of the Wall Street Journal's Money & Investing desk last week, he wasn't shy about at least one thing he planned to tear up from the old regime.
Namely, the plot to institute "Journal 3.0" that was put forward by former publisher Gordon Crovitz.
The initiative was meant to populate the front page with more "what-it-means" stories, on the assumption that like The New Yorker, the Journal would not become a first-read for straight national news. read more »
Unrest at the Journal
Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of the original CNBC report that Rupert Murdoch was interested in buying Dow Jones at $60 per share. And one year later, nothing seems to have calmed down at the Wall Street Journal. read more »
Robert Thomson, the Journal's 'Head of Content'
The Times has a mini-profile of Journal publisher Robert Thomson this morning. Here's what we learned: read more »
Tina Gaudoin Named Pursuits Editor for Journal
Tina Gaudoin, an editor who worked closely with Wall Stret Journal publisher Robert Thomson at the Times of London, has been named the editor of Pursuits, the quarterly luxury magazine the paper will start in the fall. Media Mob reported on Jan. 18 that Ms. Gaudoin was the favorite to take over after Robert Frank was assigned to become a news editor for the paper (and not named, as most thought and reported, the editor of the magazine). Rupert Murdoch and Mr. read more »
Journal's Pursuits Stills Needs Editor, Tina Gaudoin is Favorite
It was expected for a while that Robert Frank would run the Journal's prospective weekend glossy, Pursuits. When The New York Times broke the story about Pursuits in September, Richard Perez Pena reported that Mr. Frank was the favorite; the Observer reported later that he had a meeting with Mr. read more »
Murdoch Tells Journal Newsroom He Wants a 'Better Paper'
When Dow Jones shareholders were voting this morning, Rupert Murdoch was at the News. Corp headquarters on Sixth Avenue. Later in the day, after Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal officially became his, he took a trip down to the newsroom.
He spoke about their fears, and his expectations. read more »
Shakeup at The Journal as Murdoch Moves to Install His Team
Yesterday at The Wall Street Journal, there were resignation announcements, multi-million dollar severance packages, and plans for trans-atlantic trips. And over the next few months, the shakeup is likely to continue. read more »
Robert Thomson Named Publisher of Journal, Les Hinton Is C.E.O. of Dow Jones
Robert Thomson will on Friday be named the publisher of The Wall Street Journal and Les Hinton will be named the new CEO of Dow Jones, only hours after News Corp announced the resignation of CEO Richard Zannino.
The Journal's Sarah Ellison reports:
Mr. Hinton, who is News International executive chairman, has ties to News Corp Chairman Rupert Murdoch going back several decades. He was named executive chairman of News International in 1995. Prior to that he was CEO of News America Publishing, whose titles included the New York Post.
Report: Thomson Could be Out at Times of London
The Guardian is reporting that the board of The Times of London is set to meet next week and appoint a new editor replacing Robert Thomson. One executive told The Guardian the appointment of a new editor would happen "by the end of next week."
Next Thursday, Rupert Murdoch will be in full control of The Wall Street Journal and Mr. Thomson has long been mentioned as the potential next publisher of the paper since News Corp announced its takeover bid. If Mr. Thomson is replaced as an editor in London then everything seems perfectly timed for a quick move to the World Financial Center. read more »
Report: Murdoch Lieutenant Will be Made Journal's Publisher
The Observer recently reported that Wall Street Journal editors expect that Rupert Murdoch will soon find a leading role at the paper for one of his most trusted lieutenants, Robert Thomson, who is currently the editor of The Times of London.
Now, The Guardian says the move is all but a done deal. A source identified as a "senior US media executive" tells The Guardian that he is "90 percent certain" that Mr. Murdoch will install Mr. Thomson as the Journal's publisher next year.
Mr. Thomson and Journal managing editor Marcus Brauchli go back a ways -- they got to know each other when both worked as foreign correspondents, for different papers, in Tokyo.
It's looking more and more likely that there could soon be a reunion.
