Politico’s Johnson to become Free Beacon’s new editor-in-chief

Politico reporter Eliana Johnson is leaving the publication to become editor-in-chief of the Washington Free Beacon, according to a Wednesday announcement.

Johnson, who was at the conservative National Review before Politico, will be responsible for the Free Beacon’s staff of 24 and will take over for Matthew Continetti at the end of September.

I’m happy to announce @elianayjohnson will become @FreeBeacon editor in chief at the end of September. She’ll be a fantastic leader for WFB’s mix of original reporting and irreverent humor https://t.co/08ap1ZEY3i via @buzzfeedben

— Matthew Continetti (@continetti) September 4, 2019

{mosads}“I want to build on the excellent work the Beacon has done and continue to train serious reporters who have a conservative outlook and an irreverent sensibility,” Johnson told BuzzFeed on Wednesday. “The focus has been and will continue to be on scoops and original reporting.”

The Free Beacon launched in 2012 and is privately help by a group of investors that includes prominent Republican donor Paul Singer, a billionaire hedge fund manager.

The hiring of Johnson received praise across the board from other journalists and political figures on Twitter.

Congratulations @elianayjohnson!

— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) September 4, 2019

That is a fantastic pick up.

— Doug Heye (@DougHeye) September 4, 2019

No harder working journalist than @elianayjohnson with a big move over to helm @FreeBeacon as the first female editor in chief of a major conservative publication. https://t.co/klISI5ukcz

— Keith Urbahn (@keithurbahn) September 4, 2019

Great hire, @FreeBeacon !! Congrats!

— Tiana Lowe (@TianaTheFirst) September 4, 2019

Happy for ⁦@elianayjohnson⁩, who is definitely a formidable reporter with irreverent sensibility: https://t.co/0a5DkDRbBY

— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) September 4, 2019

Johnson also serves as a CNN political analyst.