Time Mag's Top Editor Quits Journalism, Joins Obama Admin

The revolving door between the field of journalism and the Obama administration spins again as Richard Stengel, Time Magazine’s managing editor, quits his journalism career to join Obama’s Department of State.

If he is confirmed by the Senate, Stengel will become the next Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, POLITICO reports.

According to the State Department’s website, the position guides “America’s public diplomacy outreach, which includes communications with international audiences, cultural programming, academic grants, educational exchanges, international visitor programs, and U.S. Government efforts to confront ideological support for terrorism.”

Stengel may have been working on this move for some Time as sources inside Time report that he’s been on leave from his editing work since July.

Stengel was made the magazine’s managing editor in 2006 but joined Time as a contributor in 1981. He has been with the magazine since 1981 except for a short, yearlong stint in 1999 as a speechwriter for Bill Bradley’s failed bid for the Democrat Party’s year 2000 nomination for President.

It is expected that deputy managing editor Nancy Gibbs will replace Stengel as the magazine’s managing editor.

Like many print media outlets, Time has had a hard go of it over the last few years. In fact, earlier this year it was rumored that Time Warner, owner of Time magazine, was looking to sell off its magazine holdings.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the magazine division’s “revenue fell 7% to $3.4 billion and operating income declined 25% to $420 million because of lower advertising and subscription revenues.” The Journal went on to note that there was plans afoot to “cut the workforce by 6% in a bid to cut costs, leading to a $60 million restructuring charge in the first quarter.”