Arthur Sulzberger Jr., the publisher of the New York Times and chairman of its parent company, is denying media reports that executive editor Jill Abramson's dismissal had to do with her complaints over unequal pay.
The Times replaced Abramson yesterday and promoted managing editor Dean Baquet to executive editor. The decision was made due to Abramson's newsroom management, according to Sulzberger. Abramson had spent two and a half years in the newspaper's highest editorial position.
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In a memo to New York Times staff today, Sulzberger said it is "simply not true that Jill's compensation was significantly less than her predecessors." He added that neither compensation nor any discussion about compensation played a part in his decision that Abramson "could not remain as executive editor."
The Times announced the abrupt management change yesterday, but didn't give a reason, which prompted a flurry of speculation in media circles.