David Zahniser, the Copley News Service reporter in City Hall whose work appears mostly in the Daily Breeze, is jumping to the LA Weekly. He presumably fills the spot opened up when Rob Greene moved to the Times as an editorial writer. After the jump is the announcement distributed yesterday by Gordon Smith, L.A. bureau chief for Copley.

To editors and staffers of Copley News Service, the Daily Breeze, the Union-Tribune et al:

I'm sad to announce the departure of David Zahniser from the Los Angeles Bureau of Copley News Service. As many of you know, Dave has covered the city and county government of Los Angeles with uncommon passion, tenacity and insight since taking over the beat in 2001. His reporting skills are among the best I've seen, and he has set a high standard as he competed fiercely with -- and often bested -- the other print media in this town. The recent announcement by the Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists that Dave has been selected as one of four "Distinguished Journalist" award winners for 2005, for his reporting on the mayor's race and other city and county matters, is a fitting tribute to his work here. Dave plans to try his hand at a different type of political writing for one of our city's top weekly publications. Join me in wishing him well.

Gordon Smith
Los Angeles Bureau Chief
Copley News Service