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Howell Raines

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Scandal claims NYT editors

The top two New York Times editors resigned on June 6, after the scandal sparked by Jason Blair, a young black reporter who admitted to plagiarizing and fabricating dozens of stories run by the newspaper, caused outrage at the NYT and outside.

Executive Editor Howell Raines and Managing Editor Gerald Boyd were accused of overlooking Blair's errors and ignoring warnings about his work from other editors.

In a statement, New York Times Company Chairman and NYT Publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr said, 'Howell and Gerald have tendered their resignations, and I have accepted them with sadness based on what we believe is best for The Times.'

Earlier, at a meeting with the staff, Raines -- whose leadership brought the Times seven Pulitzer Prizes for its coverage of 9/11 but antagonised the staff with his crusty style -- said: 'You have a right to ask if I, as a white man from Alabama, with those convictions, gave him one chance too many. When I look into my heart for the truth of that, the answer is yes.'

Joseph Lelyveld, a former executive editor, was appointed to run the newspaper till Raines' successor was found. A few weeks later Bill Keller, who was overlooked when Boyd was chosen, was given the job.

Text: Ramananda Sengupta

NYT editors resign

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