WSJ.com: US Business
Walt Mossberg to Leave WSJ
Dow Jones & Co. won't renew its partnership with technology news website AllThingsD and said longtime Wall Street Journal technology columnist Walter S. Mossberg will leave the paper at the end of the year.
AllThingsD, a venture with Mr. Mossberg and former Journal columnist Kara Swisher, rose to prominence covering the players of the high-tech industry and reviewing their products. Dow Jones' contract with AllThingsD is due to expire at year-end.
"For years, Dow Jones/The Wall Street Journal has enjoyed working with Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher... however, after discussions, both parties have decided not to renew the agreement," said Gerard Baker, editor in chief of Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal.
Mr. Mossberg began writing his Personal Technology column in 1991 and became one of the most influential gadget reviewers. "We thank Dow Jones for letting us run an entrepreneurial news business inside the larger firm," Mr. Mossberg and Ms. Swisher said. "However, we feel it's time to move to a more independent structure."
The AllThingsD site was launched by Dow Jones in 2007 as part of a broader effort to tap into the market for online technology news. The site was an extension of the popular D: All Things Digital conference series, begun four years earlier. Dow Jones owns the AllThingsD brand and archives, according to people familiar with the matter. Dow Jones, owned by News Corp, is the publisher of The Wall Street Journal.
Mr. Mossberg and Ms. Swisher are in negotiations with investors and media companies, including Comcast Corp.'s NBCUniversal, for their next partnership, according to a person familiar with the matter.
In his statement on the separation, Mr. Baker announced plans for an expansion of the Journal's technology coverage and conference franchise, including the addition of 20 editorial staff.
Write to Keach Hagey at keach.hagey@wsj.com and William Launder at william.launder@wsj.com
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