Boston Globe Announces Integration of Boston.com Website

As a result of the consolidation, both editorial operations willnow fall under the direction of Boston Globe editor Martin Baron whowill coordinate how news and features are reported, edited andpresented online and in print.

In other moves, the newspaper said it was also integrating severalbusiness functions under existing Globe management including Finance,Consumer Marketing and Design and Human Resources. The company willalso continue its earlier integration of all advertising functionsunder Chief Advertising Officer Samuel P. Martin.

In a letter to employees today, Globe publisher Richard Gilmannoted that part of Boston.com's success since its founding ten yearsago can be attributed to its "autonomy and absolute focus" in thoseearly days.

"Now," he said, "we are in a new phase of heightened competitionagainst massive information providers. We're experiencing a deeperinterdependency between print, online and mobile communications. Andwe strive daily to satisfy complex audience demands. To flourish inthis new environment, we need to have a more integrated approach."

Globe management cited its recent successes in providing a"solutions-oriented" approach for advertising customers through BostonGlobe Media which reaches 70 percent of the adult audience in itsmarket through the Globe, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette,Boston.com, BostonWorks, Globe Direct and its partnerships with MetroBoston and New England Sports Network.

Continuing that kind of integration with Boston.com, said Gilman,"will help us to expand our reach and influence, gain revenue andmarket share, and fiercely compete with a host of rapidly changing andexpanding media options for readers and advertisers."

Boston.com will retain its primary office at 320 Congress streetin Boston although certain editorial and business functions will beconsolidated at the Globe's headquarters on Morrissey Boulevard inDorchester. The company said no layoffs will result from theconsolidation.

Boston.com General Manager Richard Gair will continue to overseecritical technology functions, web measurement and analytics andproduct development for the website and will report to MichaelZimbalist, vice president, Research & Development Operations at TheNew York Times Company.

Zimbalist lauded the integration, noting that "there has been asea change in how people use media. This move is a key part of ourtransformation to a 21st century media organization which by its verynature is multi-platform."

According to Nielsen / Net Ratings, Boston.com currently has 3.9million unique visitors each month, a 25 percent increase over a yearago and has consistently been ranked one of the top newspaper websitesin the country.

About the Boston Globe

The Boston Globe is part of The New York Times Company (NYSE:NYT), a leading media company with 2005 revenues of $3.4 billion,includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, TheBoston Globe, 15 other daily newspapers, nine network-affiliatedtelevision stations, two New York City radio stations and 35 Websites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com. The Company'score purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting anddistributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.