Barbash to cover legal affairs for Washington Post in 2019

Washington Post executive editor Martin Baron, managing editor Cameron Barr, managing editor Emilio Garcia-Ruiz and managing editor Tracy Grant sent out the following message to the staff:

After almost four years as the superb inaugural editor of Morning Mix, Fred Barbash has expressed a desire to return to reporting. He will begin covering legal affairs in the new year.

Having a team in place between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. has positioned us to be quick and authoritative on breaking news in a way that we had never been previously, providing outstanding coverage of the Dallas police and Charleston church shootings and many other stories. But the enduring legacy of Morning Mix comes from Fred’s instructions to write “the second-day story today” and that there were no “duty stories” except when major news demanded them. Because of that vision, more than two dozen journalists who have worked on Morning Mix over the years have brought to Post readers the sorts of stories that previously would likely have been overlooked but that people clearly want to read. Fred has nurtured in his team the ability to recognize a yarn and tell it magnificently. Since its inception the Mix team has told more than 10,000 of those stories.

Fred has long been among the most accomplished and treasured journalists at The Post. During his earlier career at The Post – which preceded interludes at Politico, Northwestern and Reuters – Fred was Maryland editor, National editor, London bureau chief and Business editor. He also covered the Supreme Court. That, of course, was excellent preparation for his new legal-affairs beat.

Fred will finish out the year with Morning Mix and begin his new role on National in 2019. We look forward to seeing him during daytime hours.