Abramson Named as NYT's First Female Editor

Jill Abramson will become the New York Times' first female executive editor in 160 years, succeeding Bill Keller, who is leaving the post to write full-time for the paper. Abramson, a former investigative reporter and Washington bureau chief, has served as managing editor since 2003. Born and raised in New York, Abramson says the Times "substituted for religion" growing up, and the promotion is like "ascending to Valhalla."

Washington bureau chief Dean Baquet will replace Abramson as managing editor; both appointments take effect Sept. 6. Publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. says Keller's decision to leave was entirely his own, and that Sulzberger accepted his resignation "with mixed emotions." Keller will start writing a column on Sundays later this month. Get to know Abramson here and here with two amusing stories about her. (More Bill Keller stories.)