News International is creating a new merged web team working across The Times and Sunday Times.
The News Development Team (NDT), which is headed up by Times Digital editorial director Tom Whitwell, this week advertised for an editorial web developer and data journalists to work across both titles.
When the papers were bought by Rupert Murdoch in the early 1980’s an agreement was made to keep them editorially independent.
But there had been speculation in recent months of moves to merge the titles online.
“The [NDT] is a digital unit that lends strategy and development support to both The Times and The Sunday Times newsrooms,” Whitwell told Press Gazette.
“It develops new digital propositions and enhances old ones, all with the aim of building on the success of our digital editions.”
The NDT is part of the Digital Strategy and Development team for The Times and The Sunday Times, which was formed last month.
It works “closely” with the sales, technology, marketing and advertising departments.
A spokesperson said: “Responsibility for production and editorial control of our editions stays with the newspapers, which maintain editorial independence.”
While The Times and Sunday Times currently have separate websites they already share iPad and mobile phone apps.
Digital subscriptions to The Times and Sunday Time are only sold on a seven-day basis.
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