NBC/National Journal Team Up For Campaign Reporter Program

Thank goodness they're not called "Embeds" this year.

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.”