Guardian editorship: Staff ballot revealed

The names for the Guardian‘s staff ballot are in, and judging by the shortlist the publication could be close to following in the footsteps of the Economist by appointing its first female editor. Of the four candidates on the list, three of the candidates are members of the fairer sex.

The four names selected for the ballot are:

• Emily Bell, former director of digital content for Guardian News and Media
• Katharine Viner, deputy editor of the Guardian
• Janine Gibson, editor in chief of the Guardian website
• Wolfgang Blau, director of digital strategy at the Guardian

Rather surprisingly executive editor Jonathan Freedland, who had been a bookies’ favourite, is not on the list. Neither is the publication’s political editor Patrick Wintour.

Staff at the Guardian will now vote for their preferred choice from the list. While the winner is guaranteed a final interview slot, the Scott Trust retain the right to make the final decision. Other candidates can still proceed without inclusion in the ballot though Mr S hears that this is a good indicator of the frontrunners.