'NYT' Announces TV-Unit Reorganization

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By: E&P Staff The New York Times announced details of the reorganization of its newsroom-based television department in an e-mailed memo to staff sent Tuesday afternoon.

?Our goal was to create a unit capable of translating our journalism into television in a variety of ways, ranging from the quick-turnaround news video that can enhance the Web site as well as the channel, to investigative documentaries by our own team, to collaborations with independent producers and partnerships with other news organizations,? according to the memo, which was signed by deputy managing editor Michael Oreskes and president of news services Thomas Carley.

The reorganization is designed to allow the newsroom to work more closely with the Discovery Times Channel, to continue to develop programs for that channel and other outlets, and to develop new video projects, the memo said.

The Times might partner with news organizations like the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Germany?s ZDF, the memo said, noting that the Times is already working with the CBC on a four-hour documentary called ?China Rises."

The Times will continue ?mining stories from the newsroom and then helping to turn them into great television for Discovery Times and our other partners,? Oreskes and Carley wrote.

Some Times staffer were reassigned in the reorganization. Lawrie Mifflin, once a television reporter at the paper, remains executive director of television and radio; Jane Bornemeir becomes director of television and radio news, taking charge of New York Times Radio News; Ann Derry becomes director of television and executive producer, giving her supervision of long-form programming; and Calvin Sims become director of development.

In the memo, Oreskes and Carley said they were glad to use the Times? existing talent for the new development.

?We are deep enough to deploy that talent so we will grow in two major areas at the same time -- news and documentaries,? they wrote.

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