ɪn ˈɜːli tˈuː θˈaʊzənd θˈɜːtiːn, wˈɪðɚɹˌoʊ wʌz mˌeɪd ˈɛdɪɾɚɹ ʌvðə tˈaɪmz ɪn səksˈɛʃən tə dʒˈeɪmz hˈɑːɹdɪŋ, dᵻspˈaɪt ˌɑːpəzˈɪʃən fɹʌmðə nˈuːzpeɪpɚz ˌɪndᵻpˈɛndənt dᵻɹˈɛktɚz hˌuː ɑːbdʒˈɛktᵻd tə ðə fˈækt ɹˈuːpɚt mˈɜːdɑːk hæd nˌɑːt kənsˈʌltᵻd ðˌɛm.
In early 2013, Witherow was made editor of The Times in succession to James Harding, despite opposition from the newspaper's independent directors who objected to the fact Rupert Murdoch had not consulted them.