Jill Abramson: Making History

Jill Abramson was born to be a journalist. She graduated from Harvard University in 1976 with a degree in History and Literature. While studying, Abramson was the Arts Editor of The Harvard Independent and also worked for Time Magazine from 1973 to 1976.

All her career has been in the field of journalism and she has been an investigative reporter for most of her life. She worked for various publications. Abramson spent almost a decade with The American Lawyer. She was then the editor in chief of Legal Times in Washington D.C. starting in 1986 to 1988. Then moved on to be a senior reporter of the Wall Street Journal in its Washington bureau from 1988 to 1997. Abramson then moved to The New York Times’ Washington bureau as its head.

In 2003 she became managing editor, the number two position at The New York Times. The New York Times is not just any newspaper. It has a very influential voice in the U.S. and around the world. It has also been noted for its history of being male dominated.  In fact in 1974 the paper’s female journalists brought a discrimination suit against the company. Today the situation has improved with over 40 percent of the top jobs now being held by women.

 In September 2011, Abramson made history by becoming The New York Times’ first female executive editor in its 160 year history.  She now faces new challenges as the paper tries to secure its place in the digital environment.