WHAT DOES WASHINGTON POST READER REP DEPARTURE MEAN FOR THE PAPER?

So we found out today that The Washington Post had lost its reader representative.

Post Editorial Page Editor Fred Hiatt confirmed to me today that Doug Feaver, who took the job less than a year ago, had left.

Does this ramp up the issue of self-criticism at the paper again? Yes.

The Post took heat last February when it announced it had gotten rid of the independent ombudsman position, replacing it with Feaver's reader representative title.

The difference? The ombudsman had a two-year contract and the freedom to write anything he or she wanted about the paper, knowing they would leave after the term was up.

But Feaver, in his position, reported to Hiatt and was paid staffer that could be fired at any time. 

Now that he is gone, by his own choice Hiatt stressed, what does the future have in store? Less self-criticism and watchdogging of the paper perhaps, not more.

THE NEW NEW YORK TIMES ONLINE?

Seeing the redesigned website of The New York Times today reminds me of when we used to do a before and after comparison at Editor & Publisher back in the day, back when print designs mattered a lot.

It appears the new Times design is cleaner, easier to navigate and with a taste of the print look.

See for yourself HERE and below.