This story has been updated.
After 10 years with the political news site he co-founded, Politico CEO Jim VandeHei confirmed Thursday he would leave the publication after the 2016 race, with plans to start a “new venture” in media.
Mike Allen, the star behind Politico’s morning newsletter Playbook, is also leaving the company, The Huffington Post first reported.
“This moment in media and in history is putting every sector and idea in play – and it is too intriguing and wide open to play it safe. I plan to start a new venture when I depart,” VandeHei wrote in a memo posted on the site.
Kim Kingsley, Politico’s COO, will also leave this year, VandeHei said in the memo.
The shakeup comes amid news that Susan Glasser, the site’s top editor, is preparing to leave the site and move to Israel with her husband, Peter Baker, who was named The New York Times’ Jerusalem bureau chief.
Ooos! Just threw up a little, no big deal, keep reading.
They’re both leaving, but not together?
My sincere wish is that Mike Allen (Professional sycophant) gets out of journalism altogether. And try something more fulfilling than being the gossip guy of insider DC.
Also, that whatever venture VandeHei tries crashes and burns into a thousand fiery ashes, because lordy, Politico has done major damage to the political process.
Shorter: hope the gossip guys just fade away.
Once in awhile Politico has a good article. Not often enough though, and I hope the entire enterprise crashes and burns before, during and after their departure. They’ve had a particularly toxic effect on American politics for as long as they’ve been around. Rumor-mongering seems to be about the best thing they’re known for by most people nowadays. Hopefully when Allen and VandeHei leave they can take their confidential sources with them.
140 character journalism will never be the same.
i remember when it first rolled out and the unending promotion and excitement it generated; only to gradually disappear into nothingness…
it won’t be missed.