Washington: Capitol Hill soon to be crowded with newspapers

Capitol Leader is currently recruiting reporters from several Washington publications, including, it seems, The Washington Post, Roll Call and the Hill. Frank Meyers, the production manager at the Hill, has reportedly already joined. The foreseen staff will include 14 reporters and a dozen editors. An editor in chief has not been appointed.

Allbritton’s plan is to have the Capitol Leader team-up with his company's local television stations, WJLA (Channel 7) and News Channel 8. Journalists from the paper will often appear on Allbritton’s stations and will be requested to write reports for the politically oriented TV programs. Washington journalist Martin Tolchin – who is collaborating with the publisher on the recruitment of staff - stated that the new paper will focus on investigative reporting, but will provide members of Congress also with practical information, like restaurants and book reviews. 

Allbritton's family has backgrounds in the press industry, as it owned the Washington Star in the 1970s. Robert is now chief executive of Allbritton Communications Co., which owns television stations in Washington and six other markets. Last year it was reported he was exploring the purchase of the Hill.

Tolchin worked as correspondent for the New York Times, and in 1994 co-founded the Hill. He left the Hill three years ago to work on a book. He declared the intention to stay senior editor at the Capitol Leader for about a year and a half.

Sources: Washinton Post , Mediabistro here and here