US: print and web newsrooms may be merged at Washington Post

Posted by Katherine Thompson on July 10, 2008 at 9:50 AM

The Washington Post's Web editor, James Brady, expects the Post to merge its Web and Print newsroom with the arrival of new Executive Editor Marcus Brauchli. Brady says: "We have decided that having separate newsrooms has reached the end."

Brady goes on to say: "We have gotten as much out of it as we can. We need to be in one building so we can learn what the other does.... No decision has been made, but I think there is an agreement that we need to be together somewhere."

Concerning the differing styles of web and print, Brady is relaxed saying: "Most of the people in the paper have bought into the idea that the Web is different. I don't think it is going to be that hard. I am not worried about anything."

Nevertheless, with any merger comes speculation about job cuts, particularly for the Post, which has just seen the buyout of more than 100 newsroom staffers.

Brady, however, remains positive. "People at the newspaper and people at the Web site have pretty distinctive skills," he said. "You have to look at staffing like anywhere else, but I am not going to worry about it at this point."

Source: Editor & Publisher