This Could Be Good News

You know that gesture wherein you put your forefinger sideways in your mouth, puff up your cheeks, push the finger out sharply to make a "pop" noise, then wave finger in the air? Signifies "big whoopin' do" in a rude and vulgar way. I was all ready to do that when I saw this headline...Times Names Public Editor, and since I couldn't click the mouse and raise that finger to the mouth at the same time I clicked first. Good move:

The New York Times today named its next public editor, Clark Hoyt, a former Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and editor who oversaw the Knight Ridder newspaper chain’s coverage that questioned the Bush administration’s case for the Iraq war.

Hmm. Not to sound like a racetrack tout trying to pick a winner in the Derby but this dude's bloodlines and recent workout times look good.

Interesting that this is the first time I've heard NYT say that "Public Editor" is a time-limited position.

I sure didn't hear anything about them sacking the previous holder of the post...come to think of it I don't remember hearing much of anything by, for, or about the previous holder of the post, unlike the first PO, who I clearly recall vilifying on a regular and well-deserved basis.

His appointment as public editor takes effect May 14 and lasts two years. He will be the third person to hold the position since The Times created it in 2003, following Daniel Okrent and Byron Calame. Mr. Keller said he considered, but ultimately rejected, the idea of hiring someone from within The Times, or someone from a digital news operation.

Somebody better check local glue factories to see what might have become of those two. Meanwhile this kid sounds promising. Let's see if he can go the distance on what's still, like it not, the Churchill Downs of American dead-tree journalism.