The New York Times social media editor Liz Heron has jumped to rival Wall Street Journal, according to an internal memo sent out today by  Journal digital managing editor Raju Narisetti. She replaces Zach Seward, who left late last month to help launch a business news product at Atlantic Media, although the role has been expanded, according to a company spokeswoman. Her official title is “Director, Social Media and Engagement.”

She will lead a growing a team and report to Mr. Narisetti, a former Journal deputy managing editor who returned to the Wall Street Journal last month after a three-year stint at The Washington Post immediately following the Murdoch takeover. When he stepped down as managing editor of the Post, editor Marcus Baruchli credited him with increasing the paper’s web traffic.

In the memo, reproduced below, managing editor Robert Thomson praised Ms. Heron’s “e-empathy and e-expertise.” Read More