Seeking to quell growing outrage, the New York Times honcho responsible for firing executive editor Jill Abramson insisted Saturday that gender played no role in his decision.
Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. said he was saddened that the abrupt ouster “has been cast by many as an example of the unequal treatment of women in the workplace.”
“Rather than accepting that this was a situation involving a specific individual who, as we all do, has strengths and weaknesses, a shallow and factually incorrect storyline has emerged,” Sulzberger’s statement said.
The Wednesday announcement of Abramson’s termination took many media watchers by surprise. The 60-year-old former Washington bureau chief was the first woman to hold the position of Times executive editor.
“I concluded that her management of the newsroom was simply not working out,” Sulzberger said.
“During her tenure, I heard repeatedly from her newsroom colleagues, women and men, about a series of issues, including arbitrary decision-making, a failure to consult and bring colleagues with her, inadequate communication and the public mistreatment of colleagues.”
Sulzberger said he discussed his concerns with Abramson several times and warned her that she “risked losing the trust of both masthead and newsroom.”
“She acknowledged that there were issues and agreed to try to overcome them,” he added.
“We all wanted her to succeed. It became clear, however, that the gap was too big to bridge and ultimately I concluded that she had lost the support of her masthead colleagues and could not win it back.
Sulzberger also dismissed reports claiming that Abramson was fired after complaining that she was being paid less than her predecessor, Bill Keller.
“Jill’s pay package was comparable with Bill Keller’s,” the statement said. “In fact, by her last full year as executive editor, it was more than 10% higher than his.”
For her part, Abramson has not yet commented publicly on her firing and a cell number listed in her name is not accepting calls. But her fists seem to have something to say.
A day after she was knocked out by the Times, Abramson’s daughter posted a photo of her wearing boxing gloves and striking a heavy bag.
