Tapper will anchor a weekday program on CNN. TVNewser hears it will be the 4pmET hour, currently filled by “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.” He will also serve as the network’s chief Washington correspondent.

Tapper’s departure, which has been speculated about since earlier this year, was announced by ABC News president Ben Sherwood in a memo to staffers this afternoon. “A ferocious reporter – and now a best-selling author – he has built a reputation as one of the most prolific and multi-talented journalists on the beat, scoring scoop after scoop,” Sherwood wrote.

Sherwood also announced the promotions of Jonathan Karl and Martha Raddatz at ABC. Karl will move from Capitol Hill to the White House, stepping into Tapper’s role, becoming chief White House correspondent.

Raddatz has been named ABC’s chief global affairs correspondent (not to be confused with Christiane Amanpour, who is ABC’s global affairs anchor). She will also become the primary substitute for George Stephanopoulos on “This Week,” and will be a regular contributor to the program’s roundtable.

This is CNN’s second major talent poach from ABC News this year. John Berman, who anchors “Early Start” on CNN, joined ABC in May. CNN’s senior vice president of talent, Amy Entelis, spent more than 30 years at ABC News.

The full memo from Sherwood, as well as CNN’s release, is after the jump.

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

The first non-fiction film CNN has acquired is Girl Rising, which tells the story of several girls across the globe. It will debut on CNN in early 2013. CNN has also signed development deals with directors Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room, Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer) and Andrew Rossi (Page One: Inside the New York Times). Senior VP of talent Amy Entelis and senior VP of development Vinnie Malhotra will oversee acquisitions.

The new banner was created after CNN reorganized its long-form documentary units in March. The new model focuses on acquiring documentaries produced from outside the company, with a few tentpole features developed in-house by well-known directors.

Two CNN staffers familiar with the reorganization tell TVNewser than one of the driving forces behind the reorg was Tom Yellin, the president of The Documentary Group, which produces non-fiction programming for theatrical release and television, and would benefit from another TV network to sell content to. Yellin is an executive producer on Girls Rising.

Update: CNN says that the network held meetings with Yellin specifically to acquire his documentary, and was not related to the decision to move toward acquired programming. The decision to launch CNN Films was obviously made well-before I reported the news back in April.

“CNN Films will bring distinguished, thought-provoking documentary programming to our global audiences on all our television, online and mobile platforms,” said CNN Worldwide managing editor Mark Whitaker. “We want these documentaries to tell compelling stories and stimulate important discussions across CNN’s other programs and websites.”

More information below.

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The newly-created Talent and Development department is overseen by CNN EVP Mark Whitaker. Entelis is the executive in charge of recruiting and developing talent, developing new programming and overseeing acquisitions strategy for CNN, HLN and other CNN platforms. Vinnie Malhotra, formerly of ABC, oversees program acquisitions and development for CNN and HLN out of Los Angeles.

The department is also bringing on Lizzie Kerner as director of development. Kerner, a Sundance Channel alum, will be based in Los Angeles and will report to Malhotra.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Tapper responded this afternoon, calling his current gig “a dream job.” “I couldn’t be happier where I am right now,” he told FishbowlDC.

“Hardly surprised to read about all kinds of poachers being interested in Jake Tapper — that’s what happens when you are at the top of your profession,” ABC News SVP Jeffrey Schneider said. “We are thrilled Jake works for ABC News and expect him to have a leadership role here for a long time to come.”

A spokesperson for CNN declined to comment.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

> Confirmed: Whitaker’s note to staff and the press release after the jump…

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

As we’ve been reporting, and is now official, Barbara Fedida is making a return to ABC News as SVP of talent and business. Fedida was talent VP at CBS News until February, departing amid an executive shuffle there. Fedida joined CBS News from ABC News in 2006, where she’d spent the previous 17 years, rising from production associate to producer to talent recruitment and development director.

Susan Mercandetti is also returning to ABC, after a run as executive editor at Random House. Mercandetti spent more than a decade at ABC News on “Good Morning America” and “Nightline.”

Sherwood is also bringing on Aol executive Joe Ruffolo as Senior VP of ABC News Digital. At Aol, Ruffolo was VP of AOL.com and Head of Current Programming. Ruffolo replaces Paul Slavin who, after 33 years with ABC News, left the company last week.

Fedida takes over for Amy Entelis who is leaving ABC News for Sucherman Consulting where she will be EVP of talent.

Fedida and Ruffolo start tomorrow. Mercandetti joins May 2.

> Update: Sherwood’s letter to staff, after the jump.

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“Amy has found and groomed some of the best anchors, correspondents and producers in television news,” said ABC News president Ben Sherwood in an email to staff. “The result of Amy’s eye and efforts can be seen in the daily quality of our broadcasts.  Around the clock, our audience benefits from the work of a remarkable group of journalists.”

Sherwood is expected to name Entelis’ replacement in the coming weeks.

TVNewser hears that among the names being considered is Barbara Fedida, who had served as the top talent executive for CBS News since 2006, before leaving when new management took over in February of this year.

Sherwood’s note, and the announcement from Sucherman, are after the jump.

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TVNewser has also learned that ABC’s #2 talent executive Tory Smith is one of those who’ve volunteered for the buyout. Smith, as director of talent recruitment, reports to Amy Entelis who is the SVP of talent development and a 31-year veteran of the network.

We’ve also learned that by the end of next week all ABC News correspondents will know their fate. Earlier this week, three west coast correspondents were informed that their contracts would not be renewed.

The buyout plan is for non-union, non-contract staff employees in the U.S. which is why some of the cuts have already occurred while others are still looming.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.