Veteran White House Correspondent (Hutcheson) Leaves McClatchy for P.R. Firm

[Newsjock]

Source: Editor & Publisher

Veteran White House Correspondent Ron Hutcheson, who has spent 22 years in Washington and served as president of the White House Correspondents Association, is leaving his job at McClatchy's D.C. bureau for a public relations post at the well-known Public Strategies firm.

Hutcheson, 53, said he sought the change because he did not believe he could find a better journalism job after covering the Bush Administration for the past six years. "I had one of the best jobs in journalism during one of the most interesting times, and couldn't figure out what I wanted to do in journalism that could top that," said Hutcheson, who is married with four children. "I feel lucky to have covered the White House at this time in history, witnessing history. Bush has always had big ambitions, so there is a lot going on."

Hutcheson plans to leave McClatchy in Mid-July and start his new job Aug. 1. He said it will not involve political lobbying, although the firm also is home to Mark McKinnon, Bush's former media strategist who now advises John McCain. He said he will be more involved in corporate issues.

Hutcheson said the anti-press fervor in the country has reached a level that really affects the job. "I get tired of the level of criticism from both the left and the right. I get so many angry e-mails from both sides questioning my motives.

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