NEW YORK, Dec. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dow Jones Special Committee has approved the appointment of Gerard Baker to succeed Robert Thomson as editor-in-chief and managing editor of the Wall Street Journal. The committee and Mr. Thomson began consultation on the appointment several weeks ago.

The committee has closely followed the work of Mr. Baker, formerly U.S. editor and a columnist for the Times of London, as well as economics correspondent for the BBC and the Financial Times, since he joined the Journal in early 2009 and has met with him numerous times. Mr. Thomson informed the committee early of his intention to appoint Mr. Baker to succeed him, giving the committee time to hold discussions with a variety of key Dow Jones journalists. It also interviewed Mr. Baker, who assured the committee of his commitment to the Journal's ethical standards and to the continued clear separation of news and opinion within the newspaper and Dow Jones Newswires.

Confident that he will uphold the traditions that have earned the Journal its stature, the five-member committee unanimously endorsed Mr. Baker's appointment.

The committee was formed when News Corp. purchased Dow Jones in 2007. Its charter gives it the responsibility for monitoring the adherence of The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires to the highest ethical and professional standards. Appointment of the managing editor and the editorial page editor require approval by the committee.

Thomas J. Bray, chair
Lou Boccardi
Jack Fuller
Nicholas Negroponte
Susan Phillips

SOURCE Dow Jones Special Committee