Boston Globe merges news, Web operations

Newspaper aims to stay competitive in a global news, ad environment

updated 10:53 a.m. ET June 21, 2006

BOSTON - The Boston Globe is integrating the news gathering operations of its newsroom and its Boston.com Web site in an effort to stay competitive in a global news and advertising environment, the newspaper announced.

Both editorial operations will be overseen by Boston Globe Editor Martin Baron, who will coordinate how news and features are reported, edited and presented online and in print.

Publisher Richard Gilman said in a letter to employees that the autonomy of 10-year-old Boston.com contributed to its early success.

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“Now, we are in a new phase of heightened competition against massive information providers,” Gilman wrote. “We’re experiencing a deeper interdependency between print, online and mobile communications. And we strive daily to satisfy complex audience demands. To flourish in this new environment, we need to have a more integrated approach.”

There will be no layoffs as a result of the consolidation, the newspaper said Tuesday.

Boston.com currently has 3.9 million unique visitors each month, a 25 percent increase over a year ago, according to Nielsen/Net Ratings.

The newspaper is also integrating several business functions under existing Globe management including finance, consumer marketing and design and human resources. The company will also continue its integration of all advertising functions under chief advertising officer Samuel P. Martin.

The Globe is owned by The New York Times Co.