Was NYT Editor Abramson Fired Because She's a Woman?

May 19, 2014 at 2:39 PM by Rob Stevenson

After four years at the helm, Jill Abramson, editor-in-chief of the New York Times, has been terminated. Screen_Shot_2014-05-19_at_2.38.47_PMUnderstandably, the Times has been tight-lipped about the specific circumstances surrounding her dismissal, citing only "issues between management within the newsroom". While details will likely trickle out over time, the firing raises questions about whether Abramson's gender played any part in her parting ways with the paper.

Reports surfacing that Abramson was let go for an aggressive management style  (or #pushy, as her daughter claimed on instagram) lend credence to this thought, as often this quality is revered in males but abhorred in women. This morning, Entelo's CEO Jon Bischke joined a BloombergTV panel to discuss.

 

Politico's coverage of the matter cites the New Yorker's Ken Auletta as it lists more possible reasons for Abramon's removal:

...there were several factors, including a) Abramson’s decision to hire a lawyer after learning that her salary was less than that of her male predecessors; b) her clashes with Thompson over what she saw as an intrusion of the business side into the newsroom; and c) the fact that Abramson had not consulted Baquet about making Gibson co-managing editor. Other reports have noted Abramson’s “brusque” management style, as well as an internal report that did not reflect well on the Times’ digital operation.

In the case of Abramson's compensation, it's hard to say sexism wasn't at play, at least in her hiring process. Sadly, this sort of discrimination is not unique to the New York Times. As far as the failure to loop in relevant colleagues about the hiring of co-managing editor Gibson, it's important to note that Gibson too is female.

Arthur Sulzberger, publisher at the Times, recently offered further details in an official statement:

“During her tenure, I heard repeatedly from her newsroom colleagues, women and men, about a series of issues, including arbitrary decision-making, a failure to consult and bring colleagues with her, inadequate communication and the public mistreatment of colleagues,” Sulzberger said. “I discussed these issues with Jill herself several times and warned her that, unless they were addressed, she risked losing the trust of both masthead and newsroom.”

If sexism was at play in Abramson's firing, it's unlikely she'll be quiet about it (she is a journalist, after all). Surely, we don't know the tenth of this story, and the true reasons behind her dismissal will make themselves known in due course.

What do you think? Was sexism at play? Should procedures be put in place to make sure discrimination doesn't affect hiring/firing decisions, and what would those procedures look like? Leave a comment or tweet @EnteloRob!

entelo diversity

comments