The New York Times is eliminating the position of public editor, an accountability role the paper created in 2003 in the wake of the Jayson Blair plagiarism scandal, according to sources familiar with the decision. Elizabeth Spayd, a former Washington Post managing editor who was named the paper’s sixth public editor last year, was expected to remain in the position until summer 2018. Spayd took over for Margaret Sullivan, the paper’s longest-serving public editor, who transformed the position with her quick response to budding controversies involving the Times and her use of social media. Several news organizations, including The Washington Post, have phased out the position of ombudsman or public editor in recent years. New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. confirmed the decision in a memo to staff on Wednesday:

Source: Huffington Post May 31, 2017 14:30 UTC