National Journal Hires Major Garrett From Fox News

[Mr. Sparkle]

Source: NY Times

Major Garrett, the chief White House correspondent for Fox News, is quitting his job at the cable news channel after eight years. He is joining National Journal as a Congressional correspondent.

Mr. Garrett’s surprise departure comes just weeks after Fox was moved up to the front row in the White House press briefing room.

In the past year and a half Fox News has been a voice of the opposition to the Obama administration, putting Mr. Garrett — a well-respected newsman — in an unenviable position.

The White House last year labeled Fox, in essence, part of the political opposition, while making clear that they believe Mr. Garrett is a fair reporter. Fox executives have sought to distance the channel’s White House coverage from the opinion shows hosted by Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly and other conservative commentators.

But there was no immediate indication Tuesday that this tension played a role in Mr. Garrett’s decision to leave. Mr. Garrett worked at the Washington Times newspaper before joining CNN and then Fox, and he said in a news release, “Throughout my television career, I’ve known with certainty I would someday return to my roots in print journalism. That day has come. I will soon announce an exciting new phase of my career — one made possible in no small part by Fox News’ consistent support. It would take a lot — something near perfection — to lure me away from the best job I’ve ever had. Details to come.”

He said he looked forward to “discussing my future work on Fox News — keeping in touch with an audience I’ve come to know and cherish.”

In a separate news release minutes later, the National Journal editor in chief Ron Fournier said Mr. Garrett “is the embodiment of the new team we’re building here at National Journal.”

“He is known across Washington as one of the hardest-working journalists in the business, a fierce competitor on his beat, and a good and decent man. It is a rare combination, and one we’re incredibly lucky to be bringing into our newsroom,” Mr. Fournier said.

The National Journal has been on a hiring spree of late

Read more: http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/25/national-journal-hires-major-garrett-from-fox-news/

[onehandle]

1. He engineered the front row move. Sounds like a good reason to kick them out. nt

[Lautremont]

2. It seems that as hard as this guy works, he can never manage that promotion to Colonel.

[Lightning Count]

3. Who names their kid Major? nt

[SoapBox]

4. Who?

I don't watch FoxNooseChannel EVER...so this guy is a mystery to me.

Was he a Major in the military or something? Or were his parents just stoned when they named him?

[COLGATE4]

5. Maybe they were in to Catch 22 - you know,

Major Major

[Doctor_J]

6. Rove's ass-kisser Fournier gives this hack the thumbs-up

that says all I need to know