Oregonian Editor Peter Bhatia Finalist for University of Nebraska Job

Oregonian editor Peter Bhatia
By AARON MESH

The Oregonian's top editor, Peter Bhatia, is a finalist to become dean of the University of Nebraska's journalism school.

Bhatia, 60, will visit the campus in Lincoln on Dec. 16 and 17. He's one of five finalists vying for the dean's seat at the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.

In June, he got the new title of vice president of content for Oregonian Media Group, a new company overseeing The Oregonian's move to web-based reporting.

He and publisher N. Christian Anderson III oversaw the reduction of home delivery to four days a week, and laid off as many as 49 reporters, editors, designers and photographers—nearly a quarter of the paper's remaining news staff. 

Bhatia told WW the decisions were painful to make. "Our newsroom is a family of outstanding journalists and people,” he said. “I agonized over every decision.”

The Oregonian has replaced many of these reporters with new hires in recent months. Bhatia has become more visible in the paper's pages, answering questions about the digital shift from upset readers.

Bhatia was the longtime deputy to Oregonian editor Sandra Mims Rowe, before succeeding her in 2009. His full biography is recited on the University of Nebraska's website. 

UPDATE, 1:30 pm: Bhatia has sent a memo to Oregonian staffers. It reads:

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