Revolving Door Newsletter: 05.15.12

Yahoo CEO Is Cut; Times Staffers Fight For Employee

May 15, 2012

Scott Thompson is out at Yahoo. Ross Levinsohn, head of global media, takes over on an interim basis. Daniel Loeb, the man who discovered Thompson's fake computer science degree, will get three board seats and fill them with himself, Michael Wolf, and Harry Wilson. Fred Amoroso takes over as chairman of the board. The outgoing CEO also has thyroid cancer, which he disclosed to the board last week. It's the end of Thompson's short, rocky tenure at the top of the struggling Internet giant. Levinsohn's elevation signals that the company intends to (re)-focus on its media properties...

A host of New York Times staffers send a letter requesting the reinstatement of laid off assistant general counsel George Freeman. He was part of the cuts last week. A portion of the letter reads: "Many of us have memories of George taking on politicians, entertainment power brokers, companies and others who were sending their lawyers after us. He has probably saved the Times millions in legal costs, and helped defend our reputation for accuracy and fairness."... In a final attempt at saving itself, USA Today hires Larry Kramer as publisher. The MarketWatch founder will help right the listing ship, hopefully, and will also head the search for an editor-in-chief. He had been working as a consultant and adjunct professor at Syracuse's Newhouse School of Communications... Fred Barbash leaves Politico for Reuters, where he'll be editor, domestic policy in the publication's D.C. Bureau...

Hold the phone! CNN wants to poach Jake Tapper from his happy house at ABC. Mark Whitaker, executive vice president and managing editor of CNN Worldwide, has been making strides to land the senior White House correspondent. Tapper, for his part, says he has a "dream job," with ABC leadership providing a pithy quote. Stay tuned for the details...

Paul Steiger departs as founding editor-in-chief and CEO of ProPublica. He'll take over as executive chairman, where he will handle some fundraising and "strategic decisions." Current managing editor Stephen Engelberg jumps to the top role with current general manager Richard Tofel getting the title of president. The pair will share the CEO spot... Lindsay Ferraro moves up from the publicity manager gig at Life & Style to the public relations director slot at that publication and InTouch... And there are changes at Media Storm, Capitol Media Solutions and more...

May 15, 2012: Michelle Beadle has been named co-host at Access Hollywood. She had been co-anchor at SportsNation. (TVNewser)

May 15, 2012: John Immesoete has been named CCO at Ryan Partnership. He had been executive creative director at MARC USA. (AgencySpy)

May 15, 2012: Mark Modesto has been named CEO at Ryan Partnership. He had been president at MARC USA. (AgencySpy)

May 15, 2012: Fred Barbash has been named domestic policy editor at Reuters. He had been managing editor at CQ Roll Call. (FishbowlDC)

May 15, 2012: Kelly Schetzsle has been named associate publisher at Northshore. She had been director of advertising there. (mb)

May 15, 2012: Julia Wakefield has been named account executive at rbb Public Relations. She had been senior account executive and social media director at Schwartz Media Strategies. (release)

May 15, 2012: Paul Butler has been named general manager at Aspire. He had been senior vice president and general counsel at Gospel Music Channel. (FishbowlLA)

May 15, 2012: Stephen Engelberg has been named editor-in-chief and CEO at ProPublica. He had been managing editor there. (FishbowlNY)

May 15, 2012: Paul Steiger has been named executive chairman at ProPublica. He had been editor-in-chief and CEO there. (FishbowlNY)

May 15, 2012: Larry Kramer has been named president and publisher at USA Today. He had been consultant and an adjunct professor at Syracuse's Newhouse School of Communications. (FishbowlNY)

May 15, 2012: Gill Duff has been named president and CEO at BBDO Atlanta. He had been global business director at DDB Worldwide. (AgencySpy)

May 14, 2012: Laura Mazer has been named executive editor at Seal Press. She had been executive editor at Counterpoint and Soft Skull. (mb)

May 14, 2012: Lindsay Ferraro has been named public relations director at InTouch and Life & Style. She had been publicity manager at Life & Style. (release)

May 14, 2012: Kathy Charner has been named editor-in-chief, books and related resources, at National Association for the Education of Young Children. She had been editor-in-chief at Gryphon House. (release)

May 14, 2012: Scott Yambor has been named media director at Media Storm. He had been senior director, media services, at Serino Coyne, Inc. (release)

May 14, 2012: Chris Van Duyne has been named director of business development at Capitol Media Solutions. He had been EVP and stategic director at Nelson Creative. (mb)

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