Mark Thompson began work today as the new CEO of The New York Times, and the Newspaper Guild was there to greet him:
The guild has been in negotiations with NYT management since the union contract expired over 18 months ago, and relations between the sides have only become more acrimonious. Last February, guild members lined the hallways outside the Page One meeting room in “quiet protest.” A few weeks ago, they staged a brief walkout, leaving their desks for a quick walk around the block.
Today, guild members assembled in the NYT lobby to take a group photo for their new CEO. They wore pins that said “Guild” in NYT typography, stickers that said “believe us,” and held up signs and a large banner while posing for their photographer with a cheery “Hi, Mark!” in lieu of “cheese.” It was a peaceful affair, lasting no more than 15 minutes and designed, according to the guild mobilization committee’s memo, to “acquaint [Thompson] with the grave situation he has walked into.” The new CEO was not in attendance.
Next up for the guild could be a byline strike. According to the memo, hundreds of staffers signed pledges to withhold credit and “work strictly to the terms of the contract.”
According to The NYT, Mark Thompson has not taken up his posts yet.
The Public Editor says that it will monitor the coverage of his BBC problem closely. No doubt the office will, but The NYT was still foolish not to delay the Thompson appointment. Reckless and foolish.
--This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: October 22, 2012
An earlier version of this article referred imprecisely to Mark Thompson’s connection to The New York Times Company. He was recently named to become president and chief executive of the company, but he has not yet taken up those posts.
A version of this article appeared in print on October 23, 2012, on page A8 of the New York edition with the headline: Head of BBC Program Resigns Over an Episode He Chose Not to Broadcast.
#1 Posted by Clayton Burns, CJR on Mon 22 Oct 2012 at 11:30 PM
No pressure there, huh?
#2 Posted by John Callanan, CJR on Tue 23 Oct 2012 at 07:25 AM