NY Times struggles with replacing David Carr

Michael Calderone of The Huffington Post writes about the New York Times is struggling with replacing media columnist David Carr, whose column appeared in the business section and who died earlier this year.

Calderone writes, “The Times approached several journalists in the spring and sources familiar with the process expected a decision to be made during the summer. When Baquet was asked in mid-September about the search, he said a decision was weeks away. Now more than nine months since Carr’s death, the process continues.

“Times editors declined to comment for this story, but sources familiar with the columnist search offered several theories as to why management hasn’t yet made a decision.

“Some sources suggested a kind of paralysis has set in, with top Times editors so excessively concerned with not making the wrong choice — one not befitting Carr’s legacy — that they’ve been unable to settle on anyone. The decision has only become more weighted as the months go by.

“It’s not that Times editors haven’t had impressive candidates to consider. In May, Variety reported Vanity Fair contributing editor Sarah Ellison, NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik and Times media reporter Jonathan Mahler were in the running. None have been ruled out, according to sources.”

Read more here.