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| New York Times Names A.G. Sulzberger Deputy Publisher | New York Times Names A.G. Sulzberger Deputy Publisher |
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| The New York Times brought a new generation of the Sulzberger family into its top ranks on Wednesday, naming Arthur Gregg Sulzberger the deputy publisher. The appointment positions him to succeed his father as publisher and chairman of The New York Times Company. | The New York Times brought a new generation of the Sulzberger family into its top ranks on Wednesday, naming Arthur Gregg Sulzberger the deputy publisher. The appointment positions him to succeed his father as publisher and chairman of The New York Times Company. |
| Should he ascend to that position, Mr. Sulzberger, 36, would represent the fifth generation of his family to serve as publisher since the family patriarch, Adolph S. Ochs, purchased the newspaper in 1896. | Should he ascend to that position, Mr. Sulzberger, 36, would represent the fifth generation of his family to serve as publisher since the family patriarch, Adolph S. Ochs, purchased the newspaper in 1896. |
| The selection of Mr. Sulzberger comes at a crucial moment for The Times, converging with a shake-up in the newsroom leadership and the impending release of the so-called 2020 Report, a blueprint for reconfiguring the company for a digital and mobile future. Dean Baquet, the executive editor of The Times, is currently reviewing a draft of the report and is expected to release it in some form in a matter of weeks. | The selection of Mr. Sulzberger comes at a crucial moment for The Times, converging with a shake-up in the newsroom leadership and the impending release of the so-called 2020 Report, a blueprint for reconfiguring the company for a digital and mobile future. Dean Baquet, the executive editor of The Times, is currently reviewing a draft of the report and is expected to release it in some form in a matter of weeks. |
| At the same time, a downsizing of the newsroom looms early next year, stirring anxiety among employees who are already being instructed to embrace changes in the pace, tone and form of The Times’s journalism. | |
| The competition for the deputy publisher position had been closely watched in the newsroom, and the fact that the selection came earlier than expected — the company had said it would happen by next May — will most likely be interpreted as further evidence that the pace of change is quickening. | The competition for the deputy publisher position had been closely watched in the newsroom, and the fact that the selection came earlier than expected — the company had said it would happen by next May — will most likely be interpreted as further evidence that the pace of change is quickening. |
| Mr. Sulzberger, the son of Arthur Sulzberger Jr., who took over as publisher in 1992, was one of three candidates, all cousins. The others were Sam Dolnick, 35, who oversees many initiatives at The Times, including some in virtual reality and podcasts; and David Perpich, 39, who works on the business side and helped put in place The Times’s paywall and other subscription products. | |
| The family trustees and the Times Company’s board approved the appointment after a unanimous recommendation from a seven-member committee, which was formed as part of a formal selection process intended to ensure an even playing field for family members. In previous succession choices there had been tension in the family over the perception that sons in the Sulzberger line held an advantage. | The family trustees and the Times Company’s board approved the appointment after a unanimous recommendation from a seven-member committee, which was formed as part of a formal selection process intended to ensure an even playing field for family members. In previous succession choices there had been tension in the family over the perception that sons in the Sulzberger line held an advantage. |
| Mr. Sulzberger was widely considered the front-runner by employees in the newsroom, in part because he led the team that drafted The Times’s 2014 “innovation report,” which laid the groundwork for the company’s digital transformation. He has been a national desk reporter and a reporter and editor on the metro desk, and has also worked with leaders on the business side on newsroom strategy. | Mr. Sulzberger was widely considered the front-runner by employees in the newsroom, in part because he led the team that drafted The Times’s 2014 “innovation report,” which laid the groundwork for the company’s digital transformation. He has been a national desk reporter and a reporter and editor on the metro desk, and has also worked with leaders on the business side on newsroom strategy. |
| He was informed of his selection Tuesday afternoon by members of the committee, including Mark Thompson, The Times’s chief executive and a member of the board. | |
| “A.G. brings a compelling combination of journalistic experience, genuine strategic insight and a sense of urgency about the need for change and development in the company,” Mr. Thompson said. | “A.G. brings a compelling combination of journalistic experience, genuine strategic insight and a sense of urgency about the need for change and development in the company,” Mr. Thompson said. |
| Mr. Thompson said the selection “was done in an extraordinarily careful, systematic way.” The selection committee, which was formed earlier this year, met roughly a half-dozen times, and members of the committee interviewed the candidates, who each submitted two written memos. The trustees and the board, he said, came to a quick and unanimous decision on the committee’s recommendation. | Mr. Thompson said the selection “was done in an extraordinarily careful, systematic way.” The selection committee, which was formed earlier this year, met roughly a half-dozen times, and members of the committee interviewed the candidates, who each submitted two written memos. The trustees and the board, he said, came to a quick and unanimous decision on the committee’s recommendation. |
| It is unclear how long the younger Mr. Sulzberger will serve as deputy. Arthur Ochs Sulzberger stepped down when he was 65, the same age his son, Arthur Jr., the current publisher and chairman of the Times Company, is now. | It is unclear how long the younger Mr. Sulzberger will serve as deputy. Arthur Ochs Sulzberger stepped down when he was 65, the same age his son, Arthur Jr., the current publisher and chairman of the Times Company, is now. |
| Mr. Dolnick and Mr. Perpich already have senior roles in the company, and Mr. Thompson said, “We see all three of these family members as having a continuing major contribution to make to the company.” | Mr. Dolnick and Mr. Perpich already have senior roles in the company, and Mr. Thompson said, “We see all three of these family members as having a continuing major contribution to make to the company.” |
| Among the responsibilities of a new publisher will be to choose a successor eventually to Mr. Baquet, who turned 60 last month. (Executive editors traditionally serve until age 65, but sometimes leave earlier.) The two leading candidates are Joseph Kahn, 52, who last month was elevated to managing editor, the second-highest position in the newsroom; and James Bennet, 50, who took over as editorial page editor in the spring. | Among the responsibilities of a new publisher will be to choose a successor eventually to Mr. Baquet, who turned 60 last month. (Executive editors traditionally serve until age 65, but sometimes leave earlier.) The two leading candidates are Joseph Kahn, 52, who last month was elevated to managing editor, the second-highest position in the newsroom; and James Bennet, 50, who took over as editorial page editor in the spring. |
| The New York Times Company, with a market capitalization of less than $2 billion, is not a large public company, and the Sulzberger family controls its voting shares. Still, as one of the few national newspapers, it has outsize importance in shaping public discourse. | The New York Times Company, with a market capitalization of less than $2 billion, is not a large public company, and the Sulzberger family controls its voting shares. Still, as one of the few national newspapers, it has outsize importance in shaping public discourse. |
| But it is also a company transformed. In the last several years, it has divested itself of many assets, including The Boston Globe and About.com, to focus on its core mission — The Times’s journalism. | But it is also a company transformed. In the last several years, it has divested itself of many assets, including The Boston Globe and About.com, to focus on its core mission — The Times’s journalism. |
| More recently, it has started to pursue an aggressive global expansion to increase its digital revenue outside the United States. Still, as print advertising erodes and pressure increases from other sources of news like Facebook, the challenges have become ever more pressing. | More recently, it has started to pursue an aggressive global expansion to increase its digital revenue outside the United States. Still, as print advertising erodes and pressure increases from other sources of news like Facebook, the challenges have become ever more pressing. |
| The Times is set to release its third-quarter earnings on Nov. 2, which investors and the media industry at large are likely to scrutinize for continued erosion in print advertising and whether new sources of revenue can offset declines in other areas. | The Times is set to release its third-quarter earnings on Nov. 2, which investors and the media industry at large are likely to scrutinize for continued erosion in print advertising and whether new sources of revenue can offset declines in other areas. |
| “There’s no question that there’s a lot of stuff going on that represents we’re at a real moment and an inflection point for The New York Times,” Mr. Baquet said. “There’s no question that we’re in the middle of some really thoughtful discussions about how to manage it, how to handle it.” | “There’s no question that there’s a lot of stuff going on that represents we’re at a real moment and an inflection point for The New York Times,” Mr. Baquet said. “There’s no question that we’re in the middle of some really thoughtful discussions about how to manage it, how to handle it.” |
| The publisher of The Times, who oversees all editorial aspects of the company and is regarded as its guarantor and public face, has historically come from one line of the Sulzberger family. But when Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, known as Punch, appointed his son, Arthur Jr., as publisher in 1992, members from other branches of the family were frustrated by the sense that descendants from the other lines were not being given a fair shot at leading the company. | The publisher of The Times, who oversees all editorial aspects of the company and is regarded as its guarantor and public face, has historically come from one line of the Sulzberger family. But when Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, known as Punch, appointed his son, Arthur Jr., as publisher in 1992, members from other branches of the family were frustrated by the sense that descendants from the other lines were not being given a fair shot at leading the company. |
| That prompted a meticulous development process this time around, one that the elder Mr. Sulzberger largely witnessed from the sidelines. He was not on the selection committee and did not review the candidates’ memos. Though he was informed of the recommendation late last week, he did not tell his son over the weekend. | That prompted a meticulous development process this time around, one that the elder Mr. Sulzberger largely witnessed from the sidelines. He was not on the selection committee and did not review the candidates’ memos. Though he was informed of the recommendation late last week, he did not tell his son over the weekend. |
| As part of the process, the company also took pains to ensure that each candidate got a breadth of experience, and it tracked their progress closely. | As part of the process, the company also took pains to ensure that each candidate got a breadth of experience, and it tracked their progress closely. |
| Carolyn Ryan, who now supervises the paper’s politics coverage, recalls that as metro editor she prepared detailed reports on both Mr. Dolnick and A. G. Sulzberger when they worked for her, focusing on qualities like leadership potential. | Carolyn Ryan, who now supervises the paper’s politics coverage, recalls that as metro editor she prepared detailed reports on both Mr. Dolnick and A. G. Sulzberger when they worked for her, focusing on qualities like leadership potential. |
| Jason Stallman, the Times sports editor, also prepared detailed reports on Mr. Dolnick when he served as the deputy department head. | Jason Stallman, the Times sports editor, also prepared detailed reports on Mr. Dolnick when he served as the deputy department head. |
| By all accounts, the competition for the job was cordial. The cousins have known one another since childhood and their families are friendly. They grew up together professionally, met in glass-walled meeting rooms to discuss strategy and proceeded through the selection process with mutual respect. | By all accounts, the competition for the job was cordial. The cousins have known one another since childhood and their families are friendly. They grew up together professionally, met in glass-walled meeting rooms to discuss strategy and proceeded through the selection process with mutual respect. |
| “I really do believe that those three guys have the best interests of the place in their hearts,” said Sam Sifton, The Times’s food editor, who has worked with Mr. Perpich on products such as The Times’s cooking app; with A. G. Sulzberger as his editor on the national desk; and alongside Mr. Dolnick as an editor. | “I really do believe that those three guys have the best interests of the place in their hearts,” said Sam Sifton, The Times’s food editor, who has worked with Mr. Perpich on products such as The Times’s cooking app; with A. G. Sulzberger as his editor on the national desk; and alongside Mr. Dolnick as an editor. |
| The selection committee was made up of two board members (Robert Denham and Ellen Marram), three senior executives (Mr. Thompson, Mr. Baquet and Michael Golden, the vice chairman); and two family trustees (Carolyn Greenspon, who is also on the board, and Trudy Golden, Mr. Golden’s sister-in-law). | The selection committee was made up of two board members (Robert Denham and Ellen Marram), three senior executives (Mr. Thompson, Mr. Baquet and Michael Golden, the vice chairman); and two family trustees (Carolyn Greenspon, who is also on the board, and Trudy Golden, Mr. Golden’s sister-in-law). |
| Editors, reporters and others who have worked with A. G. Sulzberger say that he is reserved and avoids the spotlight, but that he is insightful and calm under pressure. | Editors, reporters and others who have worked with A. G. Sulzberger say that he is reserved and avoids the spotlight, but that he is insightful and calm under pressure. |
| “He was really perceptive about people and really insightful about motivating people,” Ms. Ryan, the politics editor, said. “He has a real confidence and a sense of purpose.” | “He was really perceptive about people and really insightful about motivating people,” Ms. Ryan, the politics editor, said. “He has a real confidence and a sense of purpose.” |
| Because Mr. Sulzberger will be working alongside his father, also named Arthur, the company said that to avoid confusion, the son would be referred to as A. G. | Because Mr. Sulzberger will be working alongside his father, also named Arthur, the company said that to avoid confusion, the son would be referred to as A. G. |