WSJ staff abuzz over potential editor change

Michael Calderone of The Huffington Post writes about how The Wall Street Journal staff expects a change in the paper’s editorship, with Robert Thomson leaving to take on a higher position within the company.

Deputy editor in chief Gerard Baker and deputy managing editor and executive editor online Alan Murray are considered the top candidates to replace Thomson.

Calderone writes, “While Baker and Murray are believed to be the top two candidates, current and former Journal staffers say there are others who should be considered — either for Thomson’s job or the deputy position if Baker is promoted.

“Page One Editor Rebecca Blumenstein gets high marks from the newsroom and has a resume befitting a top editor, with stints as managing editor of WSJ.com and China bureau chief. One staffer predicted that Blumenstein will be the Journal’s first female top editor, whether in the near future or a few years down the line.

“Other internal contenders include deputy managing editor Michael Miller, deputy managing editor and international/investing editor Matt Murray, and Wall Street Journal Asia editor-in-chief Almar Latour.

While considered longshots, staffers say that if management wanted to tap distinguished Journal alumni, they could reach out to CNBC senior vice president and editor-in-chief Nik Deogun or New York Times business editor Larry Ingrassia. And if Murdoch chose to pull from his empire across the pond, some expect he’d look at London Times editor James Harding or former Telegraph editor-in-chief and News Corp. executive Will Lewis.

Read more here.