AP biz reporter Freed leaving for PR job

Doug Glass, the news editor for the Associated Press in Minnesota and Wisconsin, sent out the following staff announcement on Wednesday:

I’m writing to let you know that Josh Freed is leaving AP, and Minneapolis, to work for American Airlines’ media operation in Dallas. It’s a good fit for Josh, who became an airline expert during several years on that beat for the business vertical before recently transitioning to a financial services beat.

Although we lost Josh to the vertical long ago, those of us in Minneapolis will really miss his presence. He was such a great and helpful resource any time we handled a story that touched on aviation or airlines. I also consulted Josh often for the business expertise he developed during several years covering Minnesota’s top companies.

During that period pre-vertical, Josh was obviously a huge part of our operation. The big story that sticks in my mind was the 2005 Red Lake shootings, when he teamed with Amy Forliti to be our boots on the ground. It was a very difficult assignment, but he handled it with aplomb, as he did so many others.

Josh will be around for a few weeks before he leaves town for Dallas, so we must look forward to a post-work gathering soon to send him off.

Freed’s note to his colleagues stated:

I’m leaving AP after 13 years for something new, but on my way out the door I just wanted to say how proud I have been to work with you all, and to be an AP Newsman. It has truly been a privilege.