Bloomberg Starts To Put Together <i>BusinessWeek</i> Staff

Today's New York Times "Media Decoder" blog post about the restructuring of BusinessWeek post-Bloomberg LP's acquisition has a funny ring to it. We already know that editor Stephen Adler is stepping down, as well as president Keith Fox. So who will be manning the new magazine? Apparently, the people who decided to stick around. But, unless you're reading carefully, you'd never know it. The Times mentions Bloomberg "has selected a few staff members to make the leap to Bloomberg BusinessWeek," but you can't tell right away if those staffers are from the magazine or Bloomberg. Except if you are intimately familiar with the BusinessWeek masthead. The "new" magazine editors -- Ellen Pollock, John Byrne, and Ciro Scotti -- are actually just continuing in their former positions. (Mainly, it seems like the story is just there to address rumors of Pollock and Byrne's departures.) Jessica Sibley, who came in to help the ailing magazine in the role of senior vice president and worldwide publisher back in February of 2008 will be the new magazine's publisher as Fox stays behind at McGraw-Hill. The Times post is titled "Bloomberg Builds a Staff For BusinessWeek" but it should really be "Bloomberg Announces Who's Decided Not To Leave." Someone who is leaving -- Roger Neal, the current general manager of BusinessWeek.com. His staff will now report to Bloomberg's Kevin Krim. Also of note: All BusinessWeek employees will be moving to Bloomberg headquarters on December 4, unless they already work in New York, in which case they can stay at their former offices until the Bloomberg building has room for them. Memo to BusinessWeek staffers after the jump. To: BusinessWeek Employees From: Norman Pearlstine and Chris Walters Bloomberg/BusinessWeek Integration Report #2 We are pleased to bring you a report on progress as we work toward the December 1 integration. Foremost on our minds are issues involving people, and we are striving to make this process as transparent and expeditious as possible. Bloomberg expects to retain a majority of BusinessWeek's employees. Each business area will follow a somewhat different selection approach, except in Europe and certain countries where local requirements govern the process. Look for a communication shortly for details in your area. Our goal is to provide clarity around post-integration roles by November 20. In terms of the leadership organization, we are pleased to announce that Jessica Sibley, Carl Fischer and Tania Secor will join Bloomberg. Jessica will serve as Publisher of BusinessWeek, overseeing print and digital ad sales. Carl will be head of Marketing and Communications, and Tania will have an expanded finance role with Bloomberg News that will include Bloomberg Markets and BusinessWeek. We will make additional announcements about leadership in the near future. We continue with the selection process for a new Editor-in-Chief and are pleased that Ellen Pollock, John Byrne and Ciro Scotti will continue in their editorial leadership roles. Roger Neal has informed us of his decision not to join the integrated company. We are grateful for the tremendous foundation that he has built for the digital properties. Roger's Digital team will report to Bloomberg's Kevin Krim. Looking at facilities, we expect to move all BusinessWeek offices and bureaus globally (except New York and Austin, Texas) to existing Bloomberg offices on December 4. Employees based in New York will continue to work at 1221 Avenue of the Americas until space is available at Bloomberg's 731 Lexington Avenue building. Details will be provided by office as they become available. In the U.S., BusinessWeek staff members who join Bloomberg will receive a paper paycheck on December 15 to provide income continuity, particularly during the holidays. Since this will be a special, out-of-cycle payment, we cannot accommodate direct deposit. FICA deductions will restart with the move to Bloombergâ€™s payroll. Going forward, most new employees will be paid on a monthly basis. The balance of December pay will be made on January 4, 2010. Additionally, BusinessWeek staff members in the U.S. will remain on the McGraw-Hill medical, dental and vision plans through year-end but, in keeping with Bloomberg's benefit plan, will not pay a premium. In December, we will conduct an open enrollment for new employees to enroll in Bloombergâ€™s health and insurance plans for 2010. Answers to a range of additional questions about expenses, mobile devices, flexible spending accounts, supplies, technology and other issues, are forthcoming. We look forward to meeting many of you at information sessions over the next few weeks. Sincerely, Norman Pearlstine Chief Content Officer Chris Walters Integration Leader Read More: Bloomberg Builds a Staff for BusinessWeek --New York Times Earlier: Last Week at BusinessWeek

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Bloomberg Starts To Put Together BusinessWeek Staff

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