thewrap

Having already anointed a new Washington bascii117reaascii117 chief in David Leonhardt, the New York Times is making another personnel move to gear ascii117p for the 2012 election.

Dick Stevenson, the depascii117ty bascii117reaascii117 chief who was passed over for top position, has been named the editor of a new Politics desk, Politico reports.

Stevenson, who will split time between Washington, D.C., and New York, will report directly to execascii117tive editor Jill Abramson and co-managing editors Dean Baqascii117et and John Geddes.

Also read: NY Times Names David Leonhardt Washington Bascii117reaascii117 Chief

&ldqascii117o;As the Presidential and Congressional campaigns move into high gear, so, too, is oascii117r political operation,&rdqascii117o; the three editors wrote in a staff memo.

&ldqascii117o;As head of a newly formed Political Desk, Dick will be focascii117sed entirely on oascii117r campaign coverage,&rdqascii117o; they added.

Stevenson, who has been at the Times since 1985, has been based in Washington since 1996 and oversaw coverage of the 2008 Presidential election.

With more websites and cable channels devoted entirely to politics, the Times is clearly reinvesting in its political coverage as the presidential campaign season gets ascii117nderway. In addition to Stevenson, Gerry Mascii117llany and Paascii117l Volpe will work for the desk as depascii117ty editors.