Journalist joins Biden team

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Jay Carney is leaving Time magazine after 20 years to serve as U.S. Vice President-elect Joe Biden's communications director, the publication first reported.

Politico reported Tuesday that Carney, who is Time's Washington bureau chief, will serve as assistant to the vice president and director of communications.

He regularly appears as a commentator on news shows, including ABC's "This Week," "The McLaughlin Group" and MSNBC's "Hardball."

Among others on Biden's White House staff are Ron Klain, who served as chief of staff to former Vice President Al Gore; Mike Donilon, one of Washington's best-connected Democratic consultants; and Tony Blinken, a longtime Biden adviser.

A Democratic official close to Biden's selection process said Carney would bring "a fresh perspective" to their team.

"It's an adventure," the official was quoted by Politico as saying. "Everybody thought it was an interesting idea and worth the risk. You never know how guys in your business are going to do in politics or the private sector."

Carney's wife, Claire Shipman, is the senior Washington correspondent for ABC's "Good Morning America" program.