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Monday, January 7, 2008

McDonald leaving Daily News to join Mayor Nutter's team
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Daily News reporter Mark McDonald has long been headquartered at City Hall, in the media room. He'll now work there in a different capacity. He resigned from the paper to join Mayor Nutter's administration as a speechwriter, Daily News staffers learned today.

McDonald tells us that after 31 years in journalism and 20 years covering government at the Daily News, that "You wonder, "Could I be a part of that team and do something good? Government reporting is public service," he says adding that he views the new job as a "shift from what I did for the Daily News. Trying to keep local citizens informed of their world. Nice to be part of a team committed to making this place the best it'll be."  McDonald moved to Philadelphia in 1987 "in the rise of the crack epidemic, the city was torn up with construction projects and dirty as all hell."

McDonald says it's "hard to leave an institution I love and respect," and he's "not exactly sure" when he starts his new gig.

In a memo to staff, Daily News editor Michael Days wrote that "It's hard to put into words how much Mark has meant to the Daily News. He's the dean of Philadelphia's City Hall reporters, the guy who -- for 20 years -- broke the stories of how the city's political system worked or didn't work. His work exposed wrongdoing and forced city government to improve itself; you'll remember his outstanding reporting on PGW, the wage tax cuts, the prison system, the blight fight, and any of city council's various shenanigans.

In addition, as hard as he always worked, he was generous in his help to other reporters and a delight to partner with, as each of the many people who have shared his City Hall bureau can attest.

As much as we will miss him, we are excited for him. Mark sees the new administration as a once in a lifetime opportunity to try something new; we know he'll be outstanding in his new role."

 
Posted by Dan Gross @ 12:40 PM  Permalink | File Under: Media Matters | Post a comment
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