Bloomberg increases involvement in editorial operations

Ravi Somaiya writes for the New York Times about the tension at Bloomberg that led to the departure of Bloomberg Digital editor Josh Topolsky.

Somaiya writes, “Mr. Bloomberg has already turned a critical eye to the company’s money-losing television operation, where he surprised some of the staff who did not expect the founder and chief executive of a company to provide detailed input on seemingly minute matters.

“He asked one presenter for more on-air arm movement. He asked another to gesticulate with a pen. And he has personally overseen the graphics shown on screen, which now resemble those seen on the terminal.

“Mr. Bloomberg is also keen to test new ideas, said a person knowledgeable about his management style, whether he agrees with them or not. He is willing to change his mind in the face of new evidence, the person said, and eager to understand the newer aspects of his business.

“One of his concerns, these people said, was the television show, ‘With All Due Respect,’ featuring the political journalists John Heilemann and Mark Halperin. The two, the authors of popular books about the last two presidential elections, were splashy and expensive hires made by Mr. Smith and Josh Tyrangiel, the editor of Businessweek. Their show has been widely seen as awkward, and on one occasion Mr. Halperin was forced to apologize for an interview he conducted with Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, in which he questioned Mr. Cruz on his Cuban heritage and asked him to speak Spanish.”

Read more here.