Jill Abramson, the new head honcho at The New York Times, is going to have a tough job ahead of her, but if her past is any indication, she’s the right pick to guide the paper into the digital future. Abramson has been known as someone dedicated to the power of the web, and there are plenty of examples.

She helped develop the paper’s paywall, and last year she put her Managing Editor duties on hold to concentrate on the digital side of the paper. She also once told New York that reporters should be proud of getting their pieces on the home page of NYTimes.com, just like the front page:

Abramson wants to reorient the Times culture, so newsroom incentives encourage reporters and editors to fully embrace the web. When you have a front-page story,’ she says, ‘everyone is like, ‘Wow, great story!’ I’d like to get to a place where the celebration when something goes on the home page is as pronounced.’

Abramson has the backing of Jen Preston, the Times’ former Social Media Editor, too. Preston tweeted earlier “For all of you wondering about Jill Abramson and the Web? Jill gets it. And she’s fearless. We’re lucky.” She also told Daedalus magazine that the web and social media are journalism’s future:

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Media companies are starting to recognize the importance of social media. Earlier this year, The New York Times announced the creation of a social media editor position, which was filled by Jen Preston. In Texas, the Austin American-Statesman recently appointed Internet Editor Robert Quigley social media editor and National Geographic has also bought on a VP for social media, Robert Michael Murray.

Now, the New York Daily News is looking for a social media marketing manager, a full time position that “will create and manage social media opportunities to develop increased awareness, and extend our reach,” the company’s ad on mediabistro.com says.

Note to unemployed journalists: get on Twitter and start learning those social media skills now. They’ll definitely come in handy as you job search.