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Media reporter Brian Stelter, one of the most high-profile New York Times staffers because of his beat and work ethic, is leaving the paper to become the host of "Reliable Sources" on CNN and to cover media for the cable channel. Stelter produced scoop after scoop on the media beat and seemingly worked around the clock, while this year publishing his first book, “Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV." Stelter was himself a pretty interesting story. He started the TVNewser blog (as CableNewser) while he was a freshman at Towson University in 2004, sold it to Mediabistro after six months, and kept covering the TV business all through college. He got hired by the New York Times to cover TV and media after graduating from Towson in 2007 with a degree in mass communications. Stelter was featured prominently in the 2011 documentary, "Page One: Inside the New York Times," alongside fellow media reporter David Carr. Carr posted his reaction to today's news on Twitter:
>@brianstelter to CNN. Thrilled for Brian, sad for us. A great reporter, classy colleague and true friend. http://t.co/xDc1mIMErp
— david carr (@carr2n) November 12, 2013
Stelter, now 28, will take over the CNN media conversation show that for a long time was hosted by Howard Kurtz, now on Fox News Channel. Here's a bit from the CNN release.
CNN has named The New York Times media industry reporter Brian Stelter host of Reliable Sources, the network’s weekly show that focuses on the top media stories and news analysis each Sunday at 11:00amET on CNN/U.S. Stelter will also serve as a senior media correspondent for CNN Worldwide, reporting on trends, personalities, and companies across the media spectrum — from news to entertainment. He will report daily on CNN/U.S., CNN International, CNN.com, CNNMoney.com, and across CNN’s vast mobile and social landscape, feeding and flowing into his show and creating a multiplatform, global media beat for CNN.
“Brian has emerged as one of the top media reporters in the country and will be a great addition to our many platforms,” said Jeff Zucker, president of CNN Worldwide. “He grew up in the digital space, and has covered the media industry for his entire career. Brian has a keen understanding of this field – as both a journalist covering the industry and as an innovator – first, by creating his own digital platform, and second, by also leveraging the countless ways information is disseminated to enhance his storytelling. I’m thrilled to welcome him to CNN to this newly broadened role.”
Joe Flint of the LA Times posted last night that Stelter and CNN were deep into talks. Then Politico's Dylan Byers posted the done deal this morning. Other finalists for the job were NPR's David Folkenflik and former CNN Washington bureau chief Frank Sesno, Byers said. The note sent around to the NYT media desk:
As some of you probably know, Brian Stelter is converting his love for television into a new phase of his career. He has accepted a position with CNN, as a senior media correspondent and host of the program "Reliable Sources.''
For more than six years, New York Times readers could reliably turn to Brian for up-to-the-minute news (sometimes, in tweets, up-to-the-second news) on the television industry, as well as sharply focused, insightful analysis of the big developments and major trends. Along with Bill Carter, Brian has enabled The Times to lead the way on television coverage. He has broken big stories and guided the reader through a period of upheaval and rapid evolution. A lot was happening -- broadcast and streaming, big screen and small -- and if you wanted to know what it was and what it meant, you had to read Brian.Brian's departure is sad for all of us who worked closely with him and valued him as a colleague and friend. We wish him the best in his new challenge.
Stelter is a tireless tweeter with more than 206,000 followers: he has posted 50,200 times on Twitter, on his own beat and about other news stories, and used the platform more deftly than other NYT reporters as a reporting tool and to promote and advance his stories. He said this morning:
I've been at the @nytimes since college so it's surreal to be leaving. I've learned everything here. To my colleagues: thank you.
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 12, 2013
More reaction on Twitter:
Congrats to Brian Stelter taking over my old job at Reliable Sources. Best of luck (to a point).
— HowardKurtz (@HowardKurtz) November 12, 2013
Somewhere right now, @carr2n is crying big, gloppy tears over losing @brianstelter, as well he should.
— Jeff Jarvis (@jeffjarvis) November 12, 2013
Also at the NYT: Hugo Lindgren is leaving his position as editor of The New York Times Magazine at the end of the year, Capital NY says.
And this: Sara Morrison, the intern then media reporter for The Wrap who was assailed for her coverage by top KPCC exec Russ Stanton, has left to freelance and work part-time for Atlantic Wire. Per Capital NY.
