It's farewell to Washington's most quoted unemployed person: Matthew Felling. The former CBS "Public Eye" writer has become an oft-quoted media analyst (Howie Kurtz is a big fan) ever since "Public Eye" went dark and let go of some of its writers. Felling is packing up his bags and heading to Alaska, Rachel Sklar reports, where he'll be the anchoring the 6 p.m. local newscast on local CBS affiliate KTVA in Anchorage, Alaska.

Washington Monthly's Kevin Drum has joined Mother Jones (will Jay Rosen try to stop him?!?).

More here.

Reuters' Peter Kaplan is leaving at the end of this week to become the deputy public affairs director for the Federal Trade Commission, FishbowlDC has learned.

Kaplan has spent the past seven years as Reuters' Washington legal correspondent. Previous gigs included CQ, Bridge News, Washington Times, Washington Business Journal and Baltimore Business Journal.

Well-respected Federal Computer Week Editor in Chief Chris Dorobek announced his resignation today, sources tell FishbowlDC, a move that once source dubs "the latest and most serious blow to an editorial staff that has been hemorrhaging talent ever since the magazine was taken over by California-based 1105 Government Information Group in 2007." (Read Dorobek's FishbowlDC interview here.) Dorobek now heads to WFED, where he will be one of the anchors for their new afternoon drive-time show.

1105 purchased the respected trade pub in 2006 (and then later purchased Government Computer News, Washington Technology, FOSE, Defense Systems, Government Leader from The Washington Post Co.). This was followed by a consolidation of all the pubs here in Washington.

"Dorobek's departure confirms the worst fears among employees when the consolidation took place, namely that 1105 intended to gut the newsroom and replace the quality content these magazines had put out for over 20 years and reduce them to nothing more than empty advertising shells," said one former employee.

More after the jump...

continued...

Earlier on FishbowlDC: "Stephen Barr: Gone!" and "Finally: WaPo Names New Federal Diary Columnist"

Today marked the first day of new Washington Post Federal Diary Joe Davidson, who replaces Stephen Barr (who took the buyout).

Federal Diary is back.

It's been two months since Stephen Barr wrote the last Federal Diary column. Now I've been selected to continue what is a true Washington Post institution. The Federal Diary has been around since 1932, longer, as far as anyone here can tell, than any other staff-written feature.

Following Steve and the others who preceded him, including Mike Causey, is a tall order. During its 76 years, the Federal Diary has developed a strong relationship with readers. I don't intend for that to change on my watch.

Read the rest here.

FishbowlDC has learned that Fernando Suarez, formerly of CBS and the network's embed covering the Hillary Clinton campaign, has joined CNN's Washington bureau as producer for the CNN Election Center (8pm hour).

UPDATE: A reader sends in a picture from Suarez's farewell party at CBS (that's Jim Axelrod on the right)

(Sorry, not that Clooney...)

From the release:

Nick Clooney, veteran journalist and television host, joins the faculty at American University this fall as American University School of Communication and Newseum Distinguished Journalist in Residence. Clooney’s appointment is part of a long-term partnership between the School of Communication and the Newseum, the interactive museum of news in Washington, D.C. During his career, Clooney has been a broadcast journalist; a newspaper columnist; a television series writer, producer, and host; a documentary filmmaker; an Emmy Award winner for commentary; a candidate for Congress; the author of three books; and a human rights activist. He recently travelled with his son, Academy Award-winning actor George Clooney, to Darfur to make A Journey to Darfur, a documentary about genocide in the conflict-ridden region of Sudan. ... This fall, Clooney will teach Opinion Writing, and in spring 2009 he will teach Films that Changed Us, a new course based on his book, The Movies That Changed Us: Reflections on the Screen (Atria, 2002). The book analyzes the significance of such iconic American films as The Birth of a Nation, The Jazz Singer, Dr. Strangelove, Stagecoach, The Graduate, Star Wars, and Saving Private Ryan. As part of the school-Newseum partnership, Clooney will host the fifth annual AU School of Communication-Newseum Reel Journalism Film Festival and other events at the Newseum. The Newseum moved into its new $450 million home at 555 Pennsylvania Ave. in Northwest Washington in April 2008.

For what it's worth: Among the Newhouse reporters losing their offices are Bruce Alpert of the New Orleans Times Picayune and Mark Weiner of the Syracuse Post-Standard stay in DC, Brett Lieberman of the Harrisburg Patriot News doesn't.

Earlier on FishbowlDC: "Newhouse Now an Old House"

(We've edited this post, having mixed up our titles...Tackett is rumored to take Bloomberg's political editor slot, not bureau chief)

...lots of rumors that Chicago Tribune Washington bureau chief Michael Tackett will be Bloomberg's new D.C. political editor, but no announcement yet (looks like no dice for Sandy Johnson).

Sonny Bunch is leaving the Weekly Standard to become a features writer for the Washington Times.