John Solomon has been appointed executive editor of The Washington Times to succeed Wesley Pruden, who is retiring after 25 years in the newsroom. In recent years, Soloman has strengthened The Washington Post, where he has helped lead its national investigative and political reporting.

Frances Coombs, Pruden’s longtime number two, has said that he will be resigning, so that Solomon can pick his own staff.

The move by many media insiders as seen as an attempt to tone down the sharp editorial and controversially conservative edges the paper has become infamous for displaying.

Earlier: Shakeup @ Wash Times?