AP names Barrow to Southeast politics post
Jun 29, 2012, 4:42 PM
ATLANTA (AP) – Bill Barrow, a veteran journalist who has covered politics in Alabama and Louisiana, has been named to the new position of Southeast political writer for The Associated Press.
Barrow, 34, comes to the AP from The Times-Picayune of New Orleans, La., where he has covered Louisiana politics since 2006, along with health care business and policy since 2009. He previously covered politics in Alabama, where he worked for the Press-Register in Mobile.
In this new position, he will be based in Atlanta, tracking political trends in Georgia and across the Southeast.
The appointment was announced Friday by Lisa Marie Pane, the cooperative’s regional editor for the South.
“Bill is a son of the South, someone with a deep knowledge about its political leanings, the electorate and its elected officials,” Pane said. “Bill brings a sophisticated edge to our coverage in this very important presidential election year.”
During his tenure at The Times-Picayune and the Press-Register, Barrow wrote about the partisan shift that continues to redefine politics across the region. He also has covered the federal corruption trial of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, the administration of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Sen. Mary Landrieu’s re-election campaign.
“Politics in the South can be colorful and entertaining, but the issues are important to day-to-day lives and often provide a benchmark for national trends,” said Michelle Williams, AP regional director overseeing business operations for the South. “With his years of experience understanding the personalities, traditions and weight of the region’s politics, Bill brings a vital resource in unlocking the kinds of stories that matter to AP customers and their audiences.”
Barrow is a native of Bay Minette, Ala., and a 2000 graduate of Auburn University.
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