Longtime Fortune photo editor Michele McNally has been named director of photography at The New York Times.

McNally's title as director of photography is an upgrade in authority--photo chiefs at the Times have previously held the title of picture editor. One source familiar with management thinking says the title change shows that [NYT Editor Bill] Keller and the other top editors have full confidence in McNally, and that alone should help her break down communication barriers between departments.

"Michele has a breaking-news metabolism, a sharp and daring eye for the memorable image, and the know-how and relentless energy to make things happen," Keller wrote. "We're confident she will provide both the strong creative leadership we need to sustain the ambitious photography to which our readers have become accustomed in recent years, and the strong management skills to run a large and complicated department."

Photographers describe McNally as a strong editor and an impassioned defender of photojournalism. In addition to her work for the magazine, she regularly judges industry competitions and has worked as a mentor to young photographers at the World Press Photo's prestigious Masterclass in Amsterdam.