<em>Washington Examiner</em> Explodes into New Pub

This just in... Clarity Media Group has announced that Washington Examiner will become a digital platform and weekly print magazine focused on "political thought leadership," according to a release. The new product, set to launch June 17, will offer news, analysis, investigative reporting and commentary on issues affecting national legislation and policy across a number of key areas. The target readership for the print weekly will be 45,000 government, public affairs, advocacy, academia and political professionals in Washington and state capitals. The company also announced it has named Lou Ann Sabatier, a long-time executive and consultant in the publishing industry, CEO of Clarity’s Washington Group, a Denver-based company, which, in addition to The Washington Examiner, includes The Weekly Standard and the website Red Alert Politics. Editor Stephen Smithwill remain in his post, as will Executive Editor Mark Tapscott, and Managing Editor of Digital Jennifer Peebles. Several other executives on the business side will remain to lead the effort. In addition, 20 positions will be created for the new digital platform and weekly publication. “I am pleased to be part of the new direction that we are charting for The Washington Examiner and look forward to overseeing a stellar group of journalists who will cover the Washington political scene in a unique way,” said Smith in the release. The Spin...“We have accomplished a great deal over the past seven years, as we built The Washington Examiner into a credible and respected brand in a very competitive market. The strong foundation we established with the website and daily newspaper presents us with the opportunity to shift our focus and meet a pressing need in the political content marketplace,” said Ryan McKibben, president of Clarity Media Group. “As a result of research and analysis conducted over the past year, we have determined that there is an opportunity to bring our style of investigative journalism and keen analysis and commentary to covering national government and politics. The re-positioned Washington Examiner will meet that demand.” News on the layoffs...According to the release, the change "will require significant staffing adjustments in editorial and operations as the Examiner eliminates coverage of local news, sports and entertainment. In addition to 88 days notice, affected employees will receive severance and other separation benefits." “Many of the business and editorial positions needed to publish a local daily newspaper are not required as we move to focus on national and political coverage,” said McKibben. “The employees being laid off should be proud of their achievements in creating The Washington Examiner, and Clarity is grateful for the role they have played in giving the Examiner the strong presence it has in Washington.”

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Washington Examiner Explodes into New Pub

Betsy Rothstein

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