Editorial Shakeup Hits Wash Times
A shakeup at The Washington Times has editorial page editor Deborah Simmons moving to the news department after about a year at the helm — and all 12 editorial page and commentary employees required to reapply for their jobs.
The shuffle means the editorial page editor job — one of the most coveted conservative perches in Washington, previously held by the likes of Tony Blankley and Tony Snow — is up for grabs.
Richard Amberg, associate publisher and general manager, said the affected employees were informed last week that their old jobs will be technically eliminated, but new positions will be created and open for applicants. Amberg, a 10-year Times employee, has also taken the position of interim editorial page editor as Simmons moves into her new role as a special correspondent in the newsroom.
“Every job was eliminated because every job was changed in its character,” Amberg told E&P Monday. “We are increasing the number of people and adding a web element.”
He said nine editorial page editors, writers and other staff, as well as three in the commentary pages, were informed Thursday of the changes. “They were informed that all existing positions are closed because the new positions call for different skills and experience,” Amberg said. “Someone who was an X is now a Y.”
Under the previous editorial operation, Simmons served as editorial page editor with responsibility for the editorial page and Op-Ed page, Amberg said. Two other commentary pages, filled mostly with syndicated material, were under control of Mary Lou Forbes, who will remain in that position.
Also moving to the news department as a senior editor is Tara Wall, deputy editorial page editor, according to a release.
Amberg said a new editorial page editor will be hired and have control over the editorial, Op-Ed and commentary pages. He also said an expanded Web presence will be created. In the end, he said the 12 current positions will remain, with new functions and perhaps new people, while between two and five new jobs will be added.
Amberg declined to offer specifics on what the Web presence will include, but said all of the changes are likely to be in place by April 1. He also said the Times will use less syndicated material and more of its own content both in print and online. “We want fresh content, timely content, lively content,” he said. “Things syndicates offer appear on the Web before they are syndicated.”
The Times editorial pages have often been considered among the top conservative voices, especially when they were overseen by Tony Blankley, the former chief of staff to former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Blankley ran the pages for five years before leaving to join a public relations firm in 2007. He still writes a column for the Times.
“We aim to be the leading conservative arena in the country,” Amberg said.
