New NYTimes reporter on media beat

Richard Perez-Pena is joining the business news desk of the New York Times to cover the publishing beat formerly covered by Katherine Seelye, according to a memo from business editor Larry Ingrassia posted on the Romenesko site.

Ingrassia stated, “We’re pleased to say that, after many years in Metro, Richard will become the new publishing beat reporter in Business Day, with the mission of covering the revolution sweeping the newspaper and magazine industry, replacing Kit Seelye, as she returns to covering politics.

“The publishing business may be new to Richard, but taking on new assignments with aplomb, and delivering the goods, isn’t.

“Richard, who started in September 1991 with The Times as a full-time stringer in California, and joined the staff in October 1992 in New York, is as versatile as he is talented. He has covered courts, transportation, state government and politics, state and national political campaigns, and, for the last four years, health care. He’s written about everything from the Rodney King beating trial, the L.A. riots, the Branch Davidian saga, the Unabomber, Woody and Mia, the 2000 election recount, and assorted plane and train crashes. Among his many projects: Albany dysfunction 2002, post-9/11 preparedness 2003, serial killer nurse 2004, Medicaid dysfunction 2005, diabetes 2006.”