“Rick was a key member of the editorial team that produced two of the most-watched debates of the Republican primaries,” wrote ABC News president Ben Sherwood in a memo to staff this morning. “And when Martha Raddatz was picked to moderate the Vice Presidential debate, Rick enthusiastically took on a leading part in debate prep as a very convincing Paul Ryan. In fact, in the mock debates, he captured virtually every rhetorical point and personal mannerism — except for gulping water.”

The Klein announcement follows the arrival of Susan Saulny and Jeff Zeleny from the New York Times earlier this week.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Two of the shows are extensions of long-running blogs from George Stephanopoulos and Jake Tapper. “George’s Bottom Line” was the first of the new show to debut today (after the jump). And tomorrow, look for “Political Punch With Jake Tapper,” ABC’s Senior White White Correspondent.

The shows, branded as the “Power Players, will be a mix news, opinion and political insider goodness, each running about two minutes. Tapper tells TVNewser his goal is “to bring the audience behind the White House curtain to get an insider look at what it’s really like off-stage and away from the official camera view — both of the White House and the White House press corps,” adding, “We also want to have some fun with it.”

Another new show called “Spinners and Winners with Jonathan Karl” is hosted by ABC’s senior political correspondent who covers Capitol Hill and the 2012 race for the White House.

“Politically Foul With John Berman” is hosted by the sports/politics junkie Berman who “will look at campaign news through the eyes of the ultimate referee, calling fouls and giving penalties.”

ABCNews.com’s long running “Top Line”, which was daily until a few months ago, returns to a once-a-week schedule hosted by ABC News Political Director Amy Walter, ABC News Washington Editor Rick Klein, and Yahoo! News Washington Bureau Chief David Chalian.

continued…

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TVNewser has learned, Rick Klein will join the show as Senior Washington Editor. Klein, who authors “The Note” on ABCNews.com and co-hosts the daily webcast “Topline” will also appear regularly on “World News Weekend.”

Also announced, Tom Johnson will become Senior Broadcast Producer of the show. Johnson, has been with the broadcast since it was anchored by Peter Jennings.

More changes in a note from Banner, after the jump…

continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

“I’m struck in the first 24 hours the differences that seem to be emerging on the Republican side,” he said.

There seems to be a focus on two key comments Sotomayor has made, one on video about the role of the appellate court, and the other in writing about life experience. “The fact that one is on video will answer which one we’ll see more,” he says. “I think both of them are going to be in wide circulation. They are, for a lot of folks, killers and absolute game-changers. There is, I think, compelling and interesting explanations behind each of those pieces of information.”

Also discussed: Klein’s regular Fox News appearances, the New York Times’ new social media editor (Klein is on Twitter as well) and the success of a personalized magazine.

You can listen to all the past podcasts at BlogTalkRadio.com/mediabistro and call in at 646-929-0321.

Click here to receive mediabistro.com’s Daily Newsfeed via email.

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The inaugural champion edged out championship game surges from CBS’ Jeff Glor (finishing 2nd) and TVNewser editor Chris Ariens (tied for 3rd), while CNN correspondent Joe Johns‘ (3rd) hopes of winning it all were dashed as Michigan St. fell to UNC.

Thanks to all who participated, and enjoy your reign on top, Rick.

> Update: Klein tweets the victory was “among my prouder accomplishments.”

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Just three brackets (Johns, CBS’ Jeff Glor and TVNewser editor Chris Ariens) still have their champ pick alive in the Final Four.

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Klein and CBS’ Jeff Glor each have three of their Final Four teams still alive, while the current 2nd and 3rd place brackets (Steve Krakauer and MSNBC’s Willie Geist) have their top team eliminated. Look out for ABC’s John Berman — although he’s back in the pack, he’s got all four Final Four teams still alive.

Also, Klein left some trash talk this week on the group message board: “And I thought all those TVs in the Situation Room would give Blitzer an advantage,” he wrote.

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Klein has one of the four brackets (along with MSNBC’s Willie Geist, CBS’ Jeff Glor and TVN editor Chris Ariens) with all Elite Eight teams still intact. The leader after Day 1, CNN’s Joe Johns, fell back into the pack, and his pick of Michigan in the Final Four will hurt his chances at victory.

And although he’s currently sitting in last place, ABC’s John Berman writes on the league’s message board: “I might be last…but I am leading in the demo.”

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Here are the 2009 participants, and who they picked to win it all:

• ABC correspondent John Berman (Pittsburgh)
• CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer (Duke)
&bull Bloomberg anchor Peter Cook (Duke)
• MSNBC host Willie Geist (Memphis)
• CBS anchor Jeff Glor (North Carolina)
• BBC E.P. Rome Hartman (Duke)
• CNN correspondent Joe Johns (Michigan St.)
• ABC correspondent Rick Klein (Louisville)
• CNBC correspondent Darren Rovell (Louisville)

We’ll update the standings periodically, and report on any trash talk that takes place among the competitors. Good luck!

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

The overriding focus was Twitter. BBC’s Rome Hartman, who says he’s “somehow been branded the Howard Beale of Twitter,” has mixed feelings. “As a newsgathering tool it’s hugely important,” he said. But, it furthers “mass self-absorption.”

ABC News’ Rick Klein thinks it’s necessary. “I think if people are getting their information in new, different ways, then we should be a part of it,” he said.

NBC’s Jim Long, who’s very active on Twitter, said, “If used properly…it gives you the opportunity to feel and understand the people you’re trying to serve.”

As for the Web-based panelists, Michael Meyers said the Web will have it’s own “niche.” “We’re going to own breaking news,” he said, while traditional media will have “highly synthesized well-thought out content.” The point was argued by members of the panel.

Rachel Sterne talked about the monetary possibility on the Web. “A news audience is probably the best audience you can get online,” she said. “It’s an attractive demographic.”

“The audience has to get bigger, and it has to get different,” said Klein.

At the end of the session, Haddad presented Hartman with a parting gift. Take a look:

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Also on the panel are Rachel Sterne (@RachelSterne), Michael Meyers (@MichaelEMeyers) and Jim Long (@NewMediaJim).

So with all this Twitter chatter and no way for Hartman to defend himself (since…he’s not on Twitter), we emailed him. “Don’t these people have any WORK to do? Do they spend ALL day in the birdcage?” he responded.

Also, get your Twitter questions in to us (@TVNewser) for our second panel with FBN’s Alexis Glick. A lengthy Q&A, which you can participate in by submitting questions, will take place following her keynote.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

This is a time of grand experimentation in journalism,” he said. “This is something I tell up and coming journalists all the time. This is an exciting time to be a journalist, despite all the financial problems, because we’re trying a lot of new things. There are only a couple times in the history of the business where you get to play around, experiment.”

He also talked about how Twitter and other new media is affecting the traditional way of reporting. “In my mind it doesn’t replace the longer form of journalism and the more comprehensive reporting, but as a supplement, a compliment, I think it’s fantastic,” said Klein.

Also discussed: Klein’s take on the state of the newspaper industry, why the World News Webcast is successful at ABC and how Twitter helped him book a guest.

You can listen to the podcast live at 9amET on BlogTalkRadio.com/mediabistro and call in at 646-929-0321. On tomorrow’s “Menu”: Tammy Haddad joins us.

Click here to receive mediabistro.com’s Daily Newsfeed via email.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Klein is a major part of all the new media elements at ABC — a traditional media news outlet. He authors ABC’s The Note blog, is a co-anchor of “Politics Live” on ABC News NOW,” and contributes to several other ABCNews.com’s Web shows.

Klein also appears on the “New Tools of the Trade” panel kicking off Tuesday’s TVNewser Summit (March 10, NYC).

Click here to listen LIVE at 9amET.

You can call in at (646) 929-0321 and listen to all our past podcasts at www.BlogTalkRadio.com/mediabistro.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.