Ken Baker, the editorial director of Usmagazine.com, and quite possibly the most senior employee of Us Weekly (he’s been there eight years — longer than Janice Min) sent a surprising e-mail to friends.

The e-mail:

Friends,

I’ve decided that Golden Globes weekend is a good time to join the Hollywood writers and go on strike!

Kidding aside, I just wanted to let you all know that I was recently asked to relocate to NYC and continue my editorial director work for Us Online. As a family, however, we decided that now wasn’t a good time for a move. So, after nearly 8 amazing years on staff at Us Weekly, I am moving on to some new and exciting opportunities. Seeing Us grow over the years into a celebrity media powerhouse — and then watching Usmagazine.com almost double its audience since I helped relaunch the site last January — has been gratifying and humbling beyond words.

It has been a really fun ride at Us, and I am so grateful for all the doors it has opened, and I must give many thanks to Jann, Janice, Gary, Mark, Kathryn (to name a few), and the mag’s super-talented edit crew, especially in L.A. Not to mention Lindsay, Britney, Paris and Nicole!

You’ll be seeing my new work very (very) soon, and when I can share all the exciting details I will let you know everything.

Best wishes,
Ken

Ken (pictured here with his family) doesn’t reveal what his next move will be, but the guy’s a staple on both CNN and E! so smart money is on him ending up parlaying one of those regular gigs into a full-time venture. And this here exclusive kinda smells like a clue.

Good luck, Ken!