Thomson Reuters unveils major editorial overhaul

Stephen Adler, pictured, editor-in-chief since February, said he aims to raise Reuters’ profile, streamline decision-making, and better exploit the resources of the company created by the takeover of Reuters by Thomson three years ago.

A former Wall Street Journal editor who joined the company last year after leaving the top job at BusinessWeek magazine, he told staff in a memo: “My sole goal will be to make us the number one news provider in the world. I'm in favor of anything that helps get us there and against anything that gets in the way.”

In a news release, Adler said: “We must be second to none in speed, accuracy, relevance, and fairness, but also – and crucially – in enterprise, insight, analysis and originality.”

“News is central to what we do,” he told a Reuters reporter. “I think this structure enables us to concentrate on doing great journalism.”

The new structure, unveiled after a 60-day review, eliminates a layer of editorial bureaucracy in order to compete more effectively and streamline decision-making.

The new faces are

• Paul Ingrassia, former Dow Jones Newswires president and Pulitzer-prize winner who is appointed to the new position of deputy editor-in-chief. Based in New York, he will spend one week a month in London. 
• Stuart Karle, the Journal’s former general counsel, becomes the news division's chief operating officer, a new position.
• Reginald Chua, former editor of the South China Morning Post and the Asian Wall Street Journal, becomes data editor.
• Jim Gaines, formerly managing editor at Time, Life and People magazines, will leave his job as managing editor of The Daily, Rupert Murdoch's digital paper for tablet computers, to join Thomson Reuters as ethics editor.

They are part of a New York-based executive team that also includes Chrystia Freeland, editor of Thomson Reuters Digital, who joined the company last year from the Financial Times; Amy Stevens, executive editor of professional news, who was deputy page-one editor of the Journal; and Adrian Dickson, global head, editorial products. Hugo Dixon continues as editor of Reuters Breakingviews and will remain in London.

As part of Adler’s effort to “tame the bureaucracy and clarify lines of authority,” the re-organisation eliminates roles such as global specialist editors who oversaw coverage of areas such as general and political news, and economic and companies reporting.

Adler’s announcement confirmed the departure of Betty Wong, global managing editor, after 21 years at Reuters.

He said the changes would help to achieve goals he outlined when he took over as editor-in-chief two months ago, namely:

• “To distinguish ourselves as the world's leading provider of news and insight;
• “To serve all Thomson Reuters customers across the divisions;
• “To create innovative digital offerings to showcase our work, brand, and values;
• “To tame bureaucracy and clarify lines of authority;
• “To develop a higher profile for our work;
• “To adhere enthusiastically to the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.”

“Separating content and operations is really the heart of this restructuring and will enable us to plan coverage in a more unified and coherent way while strengthening the operations that are designed to support and promote it,” he said.

In the new structure, the existing global managing editor job is divided between the chief operating officer, who will handle operations, support, and logistics; and the deputy editor-in-chief, who will oversee content creation in all media and absorb the responsibilities of global specialists editor as well. 

Pictures and Television will continue to report to Mark Thompson. Reuters Insider will be led by Chris Cramer. Richard Mably will continue to lead commodities and energy on a global basis.

Adler said he was strongly committed to creating more attractive career paths for journalists who want to continue reporting and writing rather than become managers. “Eliminating the tier of global specialist editors will allow us to create senior reporting positions that will enhance our coverage in key areas. This is good for the staff and great for the file.” ■