5 Takeaways from New York Magazine’s Profile of the New York Times

From Nate Silver's departure to David Carr's license to gab, here's what New York Magazine dug up about NYT's new CEO Mark Thompson

New York Magazine's profile of New York Times CEO Mark Thompson came out on Friday, and while it's not quite the takedown piece that was rumored, it's not a glowingly positive depiction, either. Thompson and NYT executive editor Jill Abramson's seemingly troubled relationship dominates much of the story, but there are a few good gossipy tidbits. Here's what you need to know:

1. Thompson thinks he can do it all
According to an unnamed executive, Thompson told him that he's capable of doing any job at the Times — including Abramson's — saying "I could be the editor of the New York Times. I have that background."

Also read: New York Times Questions Incoming CEO Amid BBC Sex Scandal

David Carr and Jill Abramson2.Thompson didn't care much for Nate Silver
Though many both inside and outside of the Times blamed Abramson (pictured left with Times reporter David Carr) for NYT's star statistician's move to ESPN, saying she didn't do enough to keep him, the article makes it very clear that losing Silver was Thompson's decision. Thompson is quoted as saying of Silver: "During the election period, he was obviously a very significant figure. Off-season, it's a slightly different story."

Abramson, on the other hand, was fully supportive of Silver and wanted him to stay. "Abramson put on a full-court press" to keep Silver at the newspaper. "When Silver announced he was leaving, Abramson was angry."

Also read: Nate Silver Leaves New York Times for ESPN

3. Thompson's legal woes aren't over
When Thompson came to NYT in November 2012, he was leaving a BBC organization that was embroiled in controversy following revelations that longtime employee Jimmy Savile was, as the magazine described, "a raging pedophile" and the BBC shelved an investigative report about its former star. Though NYT has promised its coverage of BBC and Thompson wouldn't change with Thompson as CEO, NY Mag pointed out that despite his upcoming date to testify about extremely generous severance packages given to the BBC's top executive, NYT's coverage has been "a drip feed of bad news."

4. Here's the part of that story about managing editor Dean Baquet punching the wall in frustration with Abramson that Politico left out
"According to two sources, what precipitated the wall-punching incident was this: She had just returned from another trip and was critiquing the front-page stories that Baquet had published in her absence, calling each of them, one by one, 'boring.' Baquet, who had managed the emotional farewells of departing editors while Abramson vacationed, protested by offering a story that he felt was important. After a long pause, Abramson simply declared, 'Booooo-riiiing.'"

Also read: Politico Takedown of NYT's Jill Abramson: Same Old Sexism? Or a Real B—-?

5. David Carr is the only Times reporter who gets away with commenting in articles about the Times
Aside from Thompson, the only Times staffer quoted by name in the story is Carr, who admits: "Is Jill the best listener? No. I think she heard the criticism coming into her job, though, and has made significant efforts to be open-minded." (Abramson's only comment, when asked for an interview: "Do you want to cause me to kill myself?")

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