Gerard Baker will step down from his position as editor-in-chief of The Wall Street Journal and will be replaced by executive editor Matt Murray.
The news comes via a press release from News Corp, the owner of the WSJ and Dow Jones. Baker will serve as editor-at-large and host a new program on Fox Business Network. He will also author a regular column.
“Gerry has been a very successful editor at a time when journalism has been digitally challenged. I have no doubt that Matt is a worthy successor as Editor-in-Chief and will be a leader of the highest commitment and integrity. His strong reporting and editing background and his passion for the Journal are obvious to all who have the privilege of working with him,” said Robert Thomson, chief executive of News Corp, in a statement.
“In his new role, Gerry, who is a gifted writer and skillful and intelligent interviewer, will continue to make an important contribution to the Journal’s development,” he added. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: WSJ Video Editor Fired For Sexual Misconduct)
In recent years, Baker’s tenure has been marked by tension as many WSJ employees have criticized him as being insufficiently critical of President Donald Trump.
In August 2017, Baker sent back an article to reporters that he saw as “commentary dressed up as news reporting.”
Staff members voiced their frustrations in February about the perception that the paper has been too easy on the president. Baker denied those suggestions and said too many journalists had lowered their objectivity standards for political purposes.
Despite these recent issues, Baker expressed gratitude for his time as lead editor.
“It has been an extraordinary opportunity to have led the world’s greatest and most trusted news organization. I’m enormously grateful to Rupert, Lachlan and Robert for entrusting me with the Journal’s mission and it has been an unsurpassed privilege to have worked with so many talented and dedicated colleagues,” Baker said.
“There has never been a more important time nor a greater demand for trusted, authoritative, objective journalism and I am very much looking forward to continuing to pursue that mission as a writer, commentator and interviewer. I am honored to hand over the reins of this venerable institution to Matt Murray, an editor of unsurpassed quality and a trusted friend and colleague.”
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