Yepsen quitting Des Moines Register

[Muttocracy]

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/04/iowa-political-columnist-leaves-journalism/?hp

February 4, 2009, 1:31 pm
Iowa Political Columnist Leaves Journalism
By Adam Nagourney


Every day, it seems, brings news of another prominent journalist quitting the business, as media organizations cut back staff, shut down bureaus or threaten to close completely. Another name has joined the list this week – though it is one that has particular meaning to anyone who has followed the coverage of presidential elections over the past generation.

David Yepsen, the long-time chief political columnist for the Des Moines Register, is taking a job as director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute in Southern Illinois. His decision to leave his perch comes at a time when the Gannett Company, which owns the Register, has been forcing reporters to take unpaid furloughs, as it, like other newspapers, struggle to adjust to an economic crisis

There are many reporters in this country who cover politics for newspapers and other news organizations, but Mr. Yepsen occupied a unique role, in no small part because of the importance of the Iowa caucuses in the presidential campaign. Every four years, as the caucuses which begin the presidential nominating calendar approach, Mr. Yepsen found himself to be the most sought-after political journalist in the country, entertaining campaign managers, strategists, journalists – and candidates themselves. Mr. Yepsen, who was a columnist for the past two presidential contests and before that worked as the paper’s top political reporter, liked to joke that once the caucus came and went, he would turn back into a pumpkin.

There was a reason that that Hillary Rodham Clinton, when she was running for president, made a point of having dinner with Mr. Yepsen at a Des Moines restaurant at a time when he was writing columns that – presciently – questioned whether she understood the politics of the state.

Mr. Yepsen, who is from Jefferson, Iowa, was a unique kind of political trust and, as Democrats and Republicans alike have always said, understood his position and did not abuse it. Among members of both parties, his columns, were known as being tough, provocative, edgy (he liked nothing more than taking a poke at a politician) if fair and, more-often-than-not, on the money about what was taking place in his state.

Not surprisingly, his columns tended to be highly influential. Mr. Yepsen wrote a column that correctly seized on President Obama’s speech before an audience of Democrats at a Jefferson Jackson dinner in Des Moines, as a pivotal event in the evolution of Mr. Obama as a candidate. Mr. Obama did not give that speech until after midnight on a Saturday night, so the fact that Mr. Yepsen made a point of returning to it in his column on Monday assured that the moment did not go unnoticed. And Mr. Obama went on to win the Iowa caucuses.

[rvablue]

1. Not a single kick? I'll give you one. It just goes to show many

don't understand the ramifications of losing learned, experienced journalists like this.

We are seeing the death knell of the American Newspaper and the Print Journalist and it will not bode well for our democracy. TV and the Internet will not fill the gap. Not within the next decade anyway. Who will watch? Who will keep close tabs? And who will get away with what when there is no one there doing these things.

Thanks for the great post. Can't believe I'm the only commentor...it's a sad commentary.