Two more leave Newsweek

Investigative reporter Mark Hosenball is leaving Newsweek to join Reuters as "money and politics" reporter. Adam Kushner, senior editor for foreign coverage for Newsweek, is headed to the National Journal Group, where he'll be deputy magazine editor-in-chief. Both moves reported by Gorkana.

Four today

1. eMeg Whitman, Republican candidate for California governor, is the 332nd richest person in the world and only one of 34 women to make the Forbes 400. Gawker

2. Getting a handle on the SEO slave-drivers in the newsroom. Nieman Journalism Lab

3. National Journal continues to beef up, hiring Patricia Wilson from Reuters as the deputy editor-in-chief. The news magazine was criticized for being too male dominated in its new hires. Poynter

4. Spot.us, the fund-raising news site, has a 10-month gig for a reporter/editor to cover "overlooked, quality-of-life issues across Los Angeles." Journalism Jobs (via LA Observed)

Los Angeles Times loses two reporters*

The Los Angeles Times has lost at least two talented reporters in recent days, according to the media site Gorkana. Michael Rothfeld*, who covered Sacramento issues, including the state's prison reforms, is out. No word on where he's gone, only a note that "all inquiries" should be directed to Sacramento bureau chief Evan Halper.

Also leaving is Jim Tankersley, who had covered energy and the environment for the Times out of the Tribune Co.'s Washington Bureau. He was snapped up by the National Journal, which has gone on a hiring spree of sorts in recent weeks to beef up its economic coverage. Tankersley will be an economic correspondent for the Journal.

*Update: Rothfeld has headed back to New York to work on the Wall Street Journal's Law Blog.

Ambinder, Madhani to National Journal

The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder and Aamer Madhani of USA Today have been hired to lead the National Journal's White House coverage. Madhani is scheduled to join the National Journal next month and Ambinder will join after the November elections.

This is part of a massive talent hunt by the National Journal, which recently named Ron Brownstein as the editorial director of the National Journal Group.

Some of the other recent hires at the Journal include, "the Wall Street Journal's Yochi Dreazen, Sue Davis and Fawn Johnson; Politico's Josh Kraushaar and Coral Davenport; and Campaigns and Elections' Jeremy Jacobs.

To be young and struggling

National Journal and Atlantic writer Ron Brownstein will be on the UCLA campus Tuesday, along with LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, to talk about economic challenges facing the so-called Millenial generation (people born between 1981 and 2002). Brownstein summarizes here a recent poll that explores the ways young people are experiencing the economic meltdown and how it is shaping their views.

The program runs from 9 to noon and will be held in the California room at the UCLA Faculty Center, 480 E. Charles Young Dr. To RSVP, visit thenexteconomy.eventbrite.com.

TPM in DC

Talking Points Memo has hired two additional reporters, Christina Bellantoni of the Washington Times and Evan McMorris-Santoro from National Journal's The Hotline, in anticipation of opening its Washington, DC bureau next week.

Does new Capitol Hill social network fail the ethics test?

J.P Freire at the Washington Examiner contends that the National Journal has crossed a few ethical lines with its new social-networking site for Capitol Hill staffers called 3121, comparing it to the pay-to-play scandal that embarrassed the Washington Post a couple weeks ago.

The private site uses special software to keep out prying eyes, giving Capitol Hill insiders a private and secure site where they can chat and collaborate. Advertisers - including lobbyists and special interest groups - are given the opportunity to target and tailor ads to one of their most important constituencies: congressional aides and the members they serve.

The problem here isn't the service, Freire argues, but the organization that's providing it. National Journal is first and foremost a news organization charged with covering the very people who would use the confidential site and would be profiting by giving interest group access to the very same people:

While cloud collaboration on legislation may provide a viable solution to many logistical woes for Congress, should a journalistic enterprise be providing a "secure" platform for it that provides "privacy"?

Freire adds:

And what of the advertisers who participate? Who can they access? "Sponsoring 3121 goes beyond traditional advertising, giving you the opportunity to reach the people creating legislation within their online community. Being associated with this new feature will allow you to build connections and start a valuable conversation with a targeted group of some of the most powerful people in the political world." (emphasis mine)

Advertisers will also have the opportunity to present a question to the key legislative aides. "National Journal Group will develop a new poll that will be online only and it will survey our group of 3121 beta-testers ["a highly targeted group of Capitol Hill staffers"]. The sponsor will be listed and and will also have the opportunity to develop a question."

And as for David Miller's claim that the editorial side of National Journal will not be involved: "A survey of reporters and editors at National Journal Group will be undertaken to get their views on new media."

Keeping the connected connected

The National Journal, which publishes National Journal, Hotline and CongressDaily, has launched a beta version of a new social-networking site for Capitol Hill staffers called 3121 (also the phone extension of the Capitol switchboard). The site is exclusively for Senate and House staffers and purports to give them a chance to talk and collaborate on a secure network. The full version of the site is set for launch in mid-September.

From the About page:

3121 is also a tool for collaboration: through our recommendation engine and with flexible, easy to navigate group pages, 3121 acts as a tool to help people better connect with relevant staffers to get their job done.

3121 puts you in control and allows for a customizable dashboard and customized news. The more you get to know the system and the more we get to know you, the more 3121 will rearrange and deliver you what you need, when and where you need it. From news on your issue and Member, to positioning your own profile and collaboration tools front and center, we give you what you need to make it your own.

(h/t Bloggasm)