NBC NEWS/MSNBC/MSNBC.COM AND NATIONAL JOURNAL GROUP TO LAUNCH PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN REPORTERS TO COVER THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

REPORTERS WILL PROVIDE UNPRECEDENTED ACCESS AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES COVERAGE WHILE SERVING AS THEIR OWN MOBILE CAMPAIGN BUREAUS

NBC News/MSNBC/MSNBC.com and National Journal Group announced today an expansion of their existing partnership by launching a group of political reporters who will cover the 2008 Presidential election full-time from the campaign trail.  Beginning this summer and reaching full strength as the campaigns swing into high gear, these campaign reporters will blog and file video, audio and text dispatches from the trail for NBC News, National Journal, The Hotline, CongressDaily, MSNBC, MSNBC.com, NBC Mobile, NBC Radio and Telemundo.  The announcement was made today by NBC News President Steve Capus and John Fox Sullivan, National Journal’s Group Publisher and Chief Executive.

Said Capus, "There is nothing like being there, up close and personal, when it comes to covering a presidential election, and this allows us to be there in a very big way.  Our team of reporters on the road with the candidates will be in a unique position to report all aspects of this dynamic story for every single one of our platforms."

Based on the success of NBC News’ campaign embeds from the last presidential election, this cycle of reporters will also be dedicated video-journalists, each of whom will serve as their own mobile campaign bureaus (reporter, producer, cameraperson and blogger), armed with the latest technology for both video and text.  The “Decision 2008” campaign reporters will also provide viewers and readers with behind-the-scenes coverage and unprecedented insider access to news and information about the candidates and their top advisors.

“Having this team of reporters on the trail with the candidates and their top staff day in and day out will provide our audience of political junkies with the inside stories and interesting tidbits that they otherwise would not get,” said John Fox Sullivan. “We’re excited to be able to work with NBC News to offer our readers this expanded coverage of what is already a fascinating and highly contested election season.”
 

NBC News has been a leading source of global news and information for more than 75 years, first on radio, and today via broadcast (NBC) and cable television (MSNBC), the Internet (MSNBC.com), radio and cell phones. Operating around the clock with bureaus in key cities in the United States and overseas, NBC News provides immediate coverage and in-depth reporting of major events to a worldwide audience.

Since 1969, National Journal Group has provided “insight for insiders” through nonpartisan publications that cover all the power players in Congress, the executive branch, the lobbying world, and beyond.  National Journal Group properties include National Journal, CongressDaily, The Hotline, The Almanac of American Politics, NationalJournal.com and Technology Daily.

MSNBC.com delivers a fuller spectrum of news. Drawing on its award-winning original journalism, NBC News heritage, trusted sources and Microsoft’s advanced technologies, the site presents compelling, diverse and visually-engaging stories on the consumer’s platform of choice.  Nielsen/NetRatings reported more than 33 million unique visitors to MSNBC.com in April 2007, making it the No. 1 news site. Based in Redmond, WA, MSNBC.com is a joint venture of Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and NBC Universal (NYSE: GE).

In 2006, National Journal Group, NBC News and MSNBC.com launched their in-depth partnership with the creation of “POLITICS.MSNBC.com,” which has quickly become the web’s premiere destination for political news, analysis and video. “POLITICS.MSNBC.com,” powered by NBC News and National Journal features comprehensive insight on the political landscape with original reporting, news, commentary, live blog updates, on-the-scene observations and Web-exclusive analysis from leading political analysts.  The site's interactive features allow consumers to learn more about where candidates stand on important issues and encourages readers to participate in the political process.  Consumers can watch live video streams of important political events like the debates, vote on the candidates’ performances, and post their thoughts on the site's message boards.
 
 

Press Contacts:

For NBC News:  Barbara Levin, 212-664-2265, barbara.levin@nbcuni.com

For National Journal Group:  Susie Bell, 202-266-7747, sbell@nationaljournal.com