WSJ names new VP of news products

The following memo was sent to Wall Street Journal employees on Tuesday from managing editor Marcus Brauchli:

“We’re pleased to announce that Jim Pensiero will be returning to the News Department as vice president, news projects, effective November 1. He will report to Marcus.

“In his new assignment, Jim will direct a number of major newsroom efforts, including implementing a new technology platform that will unify our print and online news staffs. He also will be News’s project manager for a still emerging group of Journal redesigns and initiatives, including the glossy magazine.  In all of these roles, Jim will work closely with our business-side colleagues as well as with both the print and online news operations.

“A Journal stalwart and force behind much of the machinery and thinking that goes into the paper’s daily production, Jim has worked in the publisher’s office since November 2005, most recently as vice president, special projects. In that role, he managed the Journal 3.0 redesign project and was vital in many of the relationships between the News Department and other parts of the company.

“We doubt there are many people in the newsroom who haven’t known him and benefited from his whirlwind of transformation and modernization. He began working at the Journal in 1984 as a copy editor, became night editor in 1986, assistant national editor in 1987 and a news editor in 1988. He was managing editor of Smart Money’s inaugural edition, and became the Journal’s national copy chief in 1992. In 1994, he became deputy national editor, and in 1996 he was assistant managing editor for news production, market data, budgets and other administrative matters.  He was promoted to as vice president of news operations in 2002 before going to work for the publisher’s office.

“A native of Dayton, Ohio and graduate of the University of Oregon, Jim worked as a reporter in New Jersey, an editor at the Philadelphia Bulletin and an editor at Time Inc. before joining the Journal. His wife, Karen, is an assistant managing editor of the Journal.”