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Topic: Miscellaneous items
Date/Time: 6/4/2008 3:18:14 PM
Title: Plotz named Slate editor
Posted By: Jim Romenesko
 
Press release

The Washington Post Company Announces The Slate Group

New Online Publishing Unit Led By Slate Editor Jacob Weisberg and Slate Publisher John Alderman Includes Slate Magazine, TheRoot.com, The Big Money, Among Other Ventures

David Plotz Named Editor of Slate

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2008 -- Washington Post Company Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Donald Graham today announced the creation of The Slate Group, a new online publishing entity that will oversee Slate Magazine, Slate V, TheRoot.com and The Big Money, a business site launching later this year.

The Slate Group's mission is to develop and manage a family of web-only magazines. These may include additional spin-offs from Slate, new ventures and acquisitions.

Slate’s Editor Jacob Weisberg, who has been instrumental in launching new sites at The Post Company, becomes Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of The Slate Group, overseeing overall editorial and creative direction. Slate Publisher John Alderman will lead the business side of The Slate Group, adding the title of General Manager to his current responsibilities.

With Weisberg's new leadership role, former Deputy Editor David Plotz becomes Editor of Slate Magazine, which The Washington Post Company purchased from Microsoft in 2005.

"In its three and half years here, Slate has shown that it can be a great business as well as a distinctive voice within the media," said Graham. "I have every confidence that Jacob and John will continue to build on Slate's success by expanding our portfolio of Internet publications."

"The Slate Group is an Internet start-up within the framework of an existing media company," said Weisberg. "The writers and editors here have over 250 years of combined experience producing Internet-only media. In expanding into new areas, we intend to draw on everything that we’ve learned collectively about what works on the Web."

"In addition to breaking new ground for online journalism, Slate has been a leader in developing creative solutions for our advertisers,” said Alderman. "The Slate Group will continue that tradition by serving as a hub where journalism, technology and innovative business models come together."

With this change, David Plotz becomes the third Editor of Slate, following Weisberg, who became editor in 2002, and founding Editor Michael Kinsley. Plotz, 38, has been with the magazine since its founding in 1996, serving in a variety of capacities including Deputy Editor for the past several years. He has won numerous awards for his writing and is also the author of the book The Genius Factory, which was published by Random House in 2005.

"The choice of successor was an easy one," said Weisberg. "As I've been drawn more into new ventures, David has been assuming more and more control over Slate's daily operations. He is a brilliant journalist who has the respect and affection of everyone here. I know he is going to do a splendid job as editor."

"Under Michael Kinsley and Jacob Weisberg, Slate has been intellectually curious, daring, honest and funny," Plotz said. "I want to make sure Slate remains a pioneer in Web journalism, and that it keeps growing and evolving as the internet changes."

The Slate Group will work closely with Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive (WPNI), which provides advertising sales, technology and marketing services to Slate and The Root.

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