Jason Horowitz, a political feature writer for the Washington Post's Style section, is heading to the New York Times, according a memo obtained by The Huffington Post.
Horowitz is a highly regarded writer in Washington, known for engaging profiles and deeply reported looks at major political figures. His reporting on Mitt Romney's prep school days sparked controversy during the 2012 race. During the previous election cycle, then-candidate Joe Biden got in trouble for an interview he gave to Horowitz while at the New York Observer.
The Times beefed up its politics desk in May with the addition of Politico's Jonathan Martin and now Horowitz will add another dimension to the paper's coverage as a feature writer. Times editors also spoke earlier this year to a couple other top political writers, Maggie Haberman and Molly Ball.
The Post staff memo is below: (Update: Memo from Times political editor Carolyn Ryan also below)
We are sorry to report that Jason Horowitz will be leaving The Post to join The New York Times as a political feature writer.
Since joining us from The New York Observer in 2009, Jason has proven to be one of the sharpest and liveliest political reporters in this town. During his tenure he produced memorable pieces on Mitt Romney's adventures in prep school (remember The Haircut?), trouble in Hillaryland and the scandals and political infighting at The Vatican. He also managed to write insightful pieces that shed new light on high-profile people we thought we knew well, including Newark Mayor Cory Booker and the cast of characters in the New York City mayoral race.
We will miss Jason's instincts, his drive and his fearless reporting, as well as his New Yawk accent and Big City decibel level. The Style section is never more interesting than when Jason is conducting a phone interview that all on the fourth floor can enjoy.
We'll give Jason a proper sendoff in the next couple of weeks. Details to come.
Frances and Eva
Folks
I am delighted to tell you that Jason Horowitz of The Washington Post will be joining us as a roving political reporter, specializing in political profiles.
It is a homecoming of sorts, and a happy one for us. Jason worked for the Times in Rome as a reporter/researcher in the Rome bureau, where he caught the eye of Ian Fisher and Susan Chira on the foreign desk, two very savvy talent scouts.
"Jason always had a great eye for a story, a deft writing touch, drive, and whimsy," Susan recalled. "I've ground my teeth as I watched him churn out great scoops for our competitors, so I'm delighted he's back here where he belongs.''
After Rome, Jason went to the New York Observer, where he developed a lifelong fascination with local figures who played on the national stage such as Michael Bloomberg, Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton.
He put the Observer on the national map during the 2008 presidential campaign when he drew unexpected comments out of several candidates, including Joe Biden, who famously and regrettably described his future boss, Barack Obama, to Jason as "the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy."
But Jason mostly distinguished himself during that race with stories about Hillary Clinton, emphasizing the vivid and volatile personalities -- advisers, donors, staffers and relatives -- who fueled and foiled her campaign.
He joined the Washington Post in 2009 as the Style Section's political reporter, writing definitive profiles about a broad array of national political personalities and demonstrating a knack for breaking through the din of crowded coverage. As the paper's biographer of Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential campaign, he revealed unknown aspects of an already familiar candidate, from his boarding school bullying to his ascent through the hierarchy of the Mormon Church.
In Washington, Jason told sophisticated readers things they didn't know about the Obama inner circle, introduced policy advisers who toiled in the shadows and focused on some of the town's most controversial operatives to illuminate Washington's culture of power and ambition. He kept a toehold in his native New York by writing pieces that moved the dial in the city's mayoral race and the New Jersey Senate election.
And abroad, Jason made something of a hobby out of cracking open the complicated culture of Italy and the Roman Curia for American readers, delving into the Silvio Berlusconi and VatiLeaks scandals, and then anchoring the Post's coverage of the papal transition. His worlds collided when he profiled the aide of one papal contender who happened to be the brother of Obama's national security adviser, whom he had also memorably profiled.
Jason and his wife - whom he met in Italy - have two young children and live in Washington. He begins his new job Dec. 1.
Please join me in welcoming him and congratulating him.
Best, Carolyn