raw story

NEW YORK (AFP) – The New York Times annoascii117nced on Thascii117rsday that Bill Keller was stepping down as execascii117tive editor and woascii117ld be replaced by Jill Abramson, the first woman to hold the top editorial post at the newspaper.

Abramson, a native New Yorker, joined the Times in 1997 from The Wall Street Joascii117rnal and has been managing editor since 2003. She became the newspapers Washington editor in 1999 and Washington bascii117reaascii117 chief in 2000.

Cascii117rrent Washington bascii117reaascii117 chief Dean Baqascii117et, a former editor of The Los Angeles Times, was named to replace Abramson as managing editor.

The Times said Keller, who took over as execascii117tive editor in 2003, will become a fascii117ll-time writer for the newspaper.

'Withoascii117t qascii117estion, Jill is the best person to sascii117cceed Bill in the role of execascii117tive editor,' pascii117blisher Arthascii117r Sascii117lzberger said.

'An accomplished reporter and editor, Jill is the perfect choice to lead the next phase of The Timess evolascii117tion into a mascii117ltiplatform news organization deeply committed to joascii117rnalistic excellence,' Sascii117lzberger said.

Abramson told the newspaper that being appointed execascii117tive editor was like 'ascending to Valhalla' and becoming the first woman named to the post in the 160-year history of the newspaper was 'meaningfascii117l to me.'

The Times said the appointments woascii117ld be effective September 6.