This February 11, 2014 file photo shows New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson as she arrives at the White House in Washington, DC for a state dinner in honor of French President Francois Hollande.
Washington:
Ousted New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson said on Monday that her firing "hurts" but showed no rancour as she pledged to keep her tattoo representing the newspaper.
"It was the honor of my life to lead the newsroom" at the prestigious US daily, Abramson said in her first public comments since last week's high-profile shakeup.
Abramson's comments came at the commencement at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, where she said students asked her if she would remove the "T" tattoo on her back which is a symbol of The New York Times.
"Not a chance," she told the graduating students, to applause.
Abramson's abrupt dismissal last Wednesday unleashed a polemic in the media world amid speculation that she was fired for complaining about being paid less than her male counterparts -- an allegation denied by the company.
Amid high media interest in her case, the ousted editor did not address the circumstances about her dismissal but said she wanted to bring a message to students about resilience in life.
"Sure, losing a job you love hurts," she said.
"But the work I revere - journalism that holds powerful institutions and people accountable - is what makes our democracy so resilient. This is the work I will remain very much a part of."
She cited numerous cases of people bouncing back from adversity and urged the graduating class to take inspiration from that.
"I'm talking to anyone who's been dumped, not gotten the job you really wanted or received those horrible rejection letters from grad school," she said.
"You know the sting of losing or not getting something you badly want. When that happens, show what you are made of."
She told the students that she had no immediate professional plans.
"What's next for me? I don't know, so I'm in exactly the same boat as many of you," she said, drawing laughter. "And like you, I'm a little scared but also excited."
Abramson offered special praise for The Times in her remarks.
She said Times journalists "risk their lives frequently to bring you the best news report in the world" and is "such an important and irreplaceable institution."
Over the weekend, the newspaper sought to rebut the notion that Abramson was treated differently as a woman.
In a statement Saturday, publisher Arthur Sulzberger said that "a shallow and factually incorrect storyline has emerged" from the incident and said the problems of her tenure included "arbitrary decision-making, a failure to consult and bring colleagues with her, inadequate communication and the public mistreatment of colleagues."
"Perhaps the saddest outcome of my decision to replace Jill Abramson as executive editor of The New York Times is that it has been cast by many as an example of the unequal treatment of women in the workplace," he said in a statement.
"I decided that Jill could no longer remain as executive editor for reasons having nothing to do with pay or gender... Jill is an outstanding journalist and editor, but with great regret, I concluded that her management of the newsroom was simply not working out."
"It was the honor of my life to lead the newsroom" at the prestigious US daily, Abramson said in her first public comments since last week's high-profile shakeup.
Abramson's comments came at the commencement at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, where she said students asked her if she would remove the "T" tattoo on her back which is a symbol of The New York Times.
"Not a chance," she told the graduating students, to applause.
Abramson's abrupt dismissal last Wednesday unleashed a polemic in the media world amid speculation that she was fired for complaining about being paid less than her male counterparts -- an allegation denied by the company.
Amid high media interest in her case, the ousted editor did not address the circumstances about her dismissal but said she wanted to bring a message to students about resilience in life.
"Sure, losing a job you love hurts," she said.
"But the work I revere - journalism that holds powerful institutions and people accountable - is what makes our democracy so resilient. This is the work I will remain very much a part of."
She cited numerous cases of people bouncing back from adversity and urged the graduating class to take inspiration from that.
"I'm talking to anyone who's been dumped, not gotten the job you really wanted or received those horrible rejection letters from grad school," she said.
"You know the sting of losing or not getting something you badly want. When that happens, show what you are made of."
She told the students that she had no immediate professional plans.
"What's next for me? I don't know, so I'm in exactly the same boat as many of you," she said, drawing laughter. "And like you, I'm a little scared but also excited."
Abramson offered special praise for The Times in her remarks.
She said Times journalists "risk their lives frequently to bring you the best news report in the world" and is "such an important and irreplaceable institution."
Over the weekend, the newspaper sought to rebut the notion that Abramson was treated differently as a woman.
In a statement Saturday, publisher Arthur Sulzberger said that "a shallow and factually incorrect storyline has emerged" from the incident and said the problems of her tenure included "arbitrary decision-making, a failure to consult and bring colleagues with her, inadequate communication and the public mistreatment of colleagues."
"Perhaps the saddest outcome of my decision to replace Jill Abramson as executive editor of The New York Times is that it has been cast by many as an example of the unequal treatment of women in the workplace," he said in a statement.
"I decided that Jill could no longer remain as executive editor for reasons having nothing to do with pay or gender... Jill is an outstanding journalist and editor, but with great regret, I concluded that her management of the newsroom was simply not working out."
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