Jill Abramson On New York Times: 'Things Are Looking Up' (VIDEO)

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Jill Abramson gave an optimistic update about the state of the New York Times in a wide-ranging interview on Thursday's "Morning Joe."

Abramson, the paper's executive editor, appeared on the show one day after she was named one of the world's most powerful women by Forbes magazine. At number 5, she was the highest-ranking media figure on the list.

On Thursday, she weighed in on receiving the honor and the health of the paper. Co-host Joe Scarborough, who has expressed his love of the Gray Lady before, hugged a copy of the New York Times and wanted to know how the industry was faring.

Abramson said that the paper was adapting pretty effectively. "Things are looking up at The New York Times," she said. The print newspaper isn’t going anywhere. We’re making the digital transition, I believe, very successfully."

She touted the paper's content on the web and apps, as well as the success of the paywall, which she said was "going very well."

"All of the numbers are actually — initially and now a year into it — quite good and quite strong," she said. "And it’s created a new revenue stream that’s very important at the Times."

Indeed, the newspaper's growing digital subscriptions are helping offset declining ad revenues. The Times amped up its paywall earlier this year, and saw slightly higher profits during the second quarter.

(h/t Poynter)