Katie Robertson of The New York Times examines the changes being made at The Wall Street Journal under new editor Emma Tucker.
Robertson writes, “Ms. Tucker, who took over as top editor in February, was addressing a group that had been, to a large degree, tentatively optimistic about their energetic new boss. But many were also unnerved by the speed of the changes she had already made to traditions some viewed as core to the character and success of The Journal, one of the world’s premier business publications.
“At least 15 veteran editors and writers have left the paper in recent months. Long-held stylistic practices, such as the use of courtesy titles in articles, were disposed of overnight. The Journal’s chief enterprise editor, who had veto power over which big investigative pieces were published and which were discarded, was pushed out.
“In the meeting with the newsroom on Sept. 21, a recording of which was obtained by The New York Times, Ms. Tucker signaled that more changes were ahead as she oriented the outlet to better serve a digital audience and tried to shake off what she viewed as unnecessary stuffiness.
“The goal, she told them, is to add many new online subscribers by delivering readers expertise and ‘distinctive’ journalism. The organization faces ever-declining print circulation, lower social media traffic and strong competitors, she said, but its current mostly male and older subscriber base means there is a ‘robust’ market of possible new readers.”
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