New York Times Fires First Female Boss
First black No. 1 editor named.

Brad Barket//Getty for WIRED
The first woman to hold the top editor position at the New York Times is gone, and the reason behind her sudden departure might have to do with a gender pay gap, according to the New Yorker. The Times announced Wednesday that Executive Editor Jill Abramson will be replaced after three years by Managing Editor Dean Baquet, who will become the first African-American to hold the top job. Publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. said her departure was related to an "issue with management in the newsroom," and there have been rumors that her brusque style strained their relationship. She was reportedly trying to hire a co-managing editor without consulting Baquet. Apparently Abramson also recently discovered that her pay and pension as both executive and managing editor has been less than her predecessor, Bill Keller, and confronted top management. A spokesperson for the Times disputes this, saying her compensation was not less than Keller's, and notes that pensions are based on years served. Last Friday Abramson met with Sulzberger and was reportedly told of the decision to replace her.
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