Newsweek still doesn’t have a permanent editor, but at least they've got a new publisher.
Just three days before the magazine’s sale to Sidney Harman, the 91-year-old audio equipment magnate, is expected to be finalized — and three days after announcing layoffs — Newsweek promoted Rhona Murphy to global publisher on Monday.
Murphy’s been with Newsweek since 2002, serving in various sales-side roles, most recently publisher and managing director of Newsweek International.
Meanwhile, as Folio points out, Newsweek is hiring — though given the steady stream of employees who’ve left since the sale was announced, “replacing” might be a better word.
[SEE RELATED: What's Behind the Exodus at Newsweek?]
And talks between Harman and Barry Diller about a potential editorial partnership — one that would include Tina Brown — are said to be continuing.
Murphy's hire comes three days after Harman made his long-expected layoffs.
"A small percentage of Newsweek's staff was told today that they will not be offered jobs when Sidney Harman assumes control on October 1," Newsweek said in a statement on Friday. "The majority of Newsweek's employees were asked to remain in their jobs. The Washington Post Company will provide generous severance packages to those who are not being retained."
Newsweek did not disclose exactly what the percentage was, but Harman had said he would cut — at most — 25 percent from the magazine's headcount.
