Bloomberg to start political site

John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, political journalists known for their detailed, gossip-filled books on the past two presidential campaigns, will join Bloomberg in the coming days to start a new site that will focus on American politics and policy, reports Ravi Somaiya of the New York Times.

Sonaiya writes, “The new project, Bloomberg Politics, is part of a broader strategy put in place by Justin B. Smith, who was appointed chief executive of Bloomberg Media Group last summer after serving as president of Atlantic Media.

“Mr. Heilemann and Mr. Halperin, who are the authors of the best sellers ‘Game Change’ and ‘Double Down,’ are the ‘epitome of the type of quality journalistic talent that moves seamlessly between different kinds of platforms,’ Mr. Smith said in an interview.

“They will anchor a daily television program that will also stream online, as well as write news articles and take part in live events. A start date for the site has yet to be set, but will most likely be months away.

“The site might also expand to include international coverage, Mr. Smith said. New employees would be hired, though Mr. Smith declined to specify a number. Current Bloomberg reporters and editors will contribute, from Washington and New York.”

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