Times Appoints Director To Oversee Online Output
The Times has announced the appointment of Peter Bale to the newly created position of editorial director for the newspaper’s Times Online internet site.
Bale joins the Times with a strong publishing and online background. He has held high level positions with Reuters and was senior editor for FT.com. His new role will see him take responsibility for running the online editorial team and increasing readership from an already substantial 2.4 million unique users.
Commenting on the appointment Robert Thomson, editor of The Times, said: “Times Online offers users a powerful combination of one of the world’s most respected and trusted media brands, as well as a depth and breadth of content that delivers quality journalism whatever the subject. Peter will be working closely with all divisions of TNL to ensure that we continue to develop the site and further extend the brand.”
John Witherow, editor of The Sunday Times, added: “Peter is a talented editor with an outstanding knowledge of the power of online content and its potential.”
Times Online is now three years old and is credited with being the first British newspaper to launch an e-paper. The online operation broke even in the 2nd quarter of 2003 and is now peaking into profit.
The move follows a restructuring of the Times Newspapers’ sales operations earlier this week, with the creation of two distinct trading and development sectors. The company has also integrated its existing sales teams across all of the newspaper’s platforms to improve productivity (see Times Rejigs Commercial Division To Integrate Sales).
Times Online has also been undergoing gradual redesigns as new sections are phased in and older areas revamped. Last month saw the latest move in a continuing review of the company’s online services as the popular Driving section of the website received a facelift. The new section will focus more clearly on helping drivers to find and purchase their ideal car via reviews from the newspaper’s high-profile writers such as Jeremy Clarkson (see Times Continues Online Revamp Strategy With Driving Overhaul).
The Times: 020 7782 5000 www.timesonline.co.uk
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