The New York Times Washington Bureau Memo

New York Times Washington Bureau Chief Dean Baquet has named his new White House team, which includes Peter Baker, Helene Cooper, Sheryl Stolberg, Jeff Zeleny, and Ben Werschkul.

As they themselves say at the Great Grey Lady - whoopee!

His staff memo (extracts):-

Dear Washington Bureau:

It is obvious but worth repeating: Washington has never been under a lens like this before. We're in the midst of an unprecedented shift in power that the world is closely watching, and economic chaos that has Washington at its epicenter.

And boy are we ready.

In announcing this list of new assignments I'll steal a line from Bill: It's a knockout cast.

Peter Baker...had a reputation as someone who could play the whole orchestra: write analysis, break news, and cover foreign policy...

...Helene Cooper is one of our finest writers...

...Sheryl is another of our finest writers...

...No one knows the story of Barack Obama better than Jeff...

...The appointment of Ben Werschkul to the paper's White House team is a testament to the importance we place on covering Washington across all platforms. But it is more than that. It is also a comment on Ben's imagination and creativity...

...That's the permanent White House crew. In the meantime, Sheryl and the matchless Robert Pear will cover the final weeks of the Bush administration. Jackie Calmes will also cover the transition and the formation of an Obama White House, before taking on the job of covering the political economy, as previously announced in an appropriately glowing memo.

The White House crew will report to Dick Stevenson...

...Obviously the story of Barack Obama is not just the story of policy and politics. It is also a story of culture and race, and of the impact his arrival will have on Washington and the psyche of the country. We've asked Rachel Swarns to take on aspects of that story...Jodi Kantor, who wrote some memorable Long Run bio pieces, profiles and voters voices pieces during the campaign, will be writing profiles and other stories about Washington figures.

...It will be fun to sit down in the coming weeks and brainstorm about coverage of the new Washington. None of these assignments forecloses others from jumping into the game. In fact, I want everyone to get a chance to carry the ball. We should think creatively, break conventions, and take risks in coverage and storytelling. The coming years will be hugely competitive, but they will also be a blast.

Dean