The New York Times announced today it will further merge its print and online operations, with online producers now reporting directly to their respective desks, according to Yahoo! news blog The Cutline.

Digital news editor Jim Roberts has been made assistant managing editor for news, and the new editor for emerging platforms is Fiona Spruill, currently the Web newsroom editor. The continually consolidating print and online staff is an effort to continue streamlining operations, executive editor Bill Keller explained. There is also a possibility that the separate online and print union contracts will be merged.

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