New WSJ managing editor introduces himself to staff

Joe Pompeo of Capital New York writes Monday about the meetings that new Wall Street Journal managing editor Gerard Baker has been having with his staff.

Pompeo writes, “The second of those meetings was taking place today starting at 1:30, and not much news was made at the first, held Friday in an auditorium several blocks from the News Corp. building in Midtown, according to people who were present.

“‘It was more of his rollout to staff,’ said one insider, giving Baker high marks overall: ‘I think he displayed a good handle of both the business- and editorial-side concerns.’

“A spokesperson for Dow Jones and The Journal declined to comment on the Friday session.

“But one of the highlights, sources said, was Baker’s discussion of the ongoing integration of The Journal and its sister brand, Dow Jones Newswires, of which Baker serves as editor-in-chief in addition to his role as managing editor of The Journal, the highest-ranking editorial title at the paper.

“Appearing alone onstage in a navy pinstripe suit and a pale-blue dress shirt with the top two buttons undone, Baker said the integration, which aims to streamline the editorial processes of the financial-news titles, would be completed within nine to 18 months.

“But the assembled journalists didn’t leave the meeting, which lasted for more than an hour, with a clear understanding of what exactly the integration will mean for their day-to-day routines. There’s been speculation that it will result in layoffs, but Baker dodged the bullet when asked about this directly — he didn’t say people would lose their jobs; nor did he say they wouldn’t.”

Read more here.