Ellen Barry of the Los Angeles Times' New York bureau confirmed for The Media Mob that she is switching to the NYT. She'll start her New York Times career in Metro. Her soon-to-be-ex boss, National Editor Scott Kraft, emailed the staff with a call for replacements:

The National staff has an opening for a correspondent in the New York bureau. We're looking for a versatile, quick-off-the-mark reporter with a sharp eye for original stories and a gifted writing touch. The New York correspondent covers much of the Northeast, writing dailies as well as enterprise on a wide variety of topics. An eagerness to travel, often at a moment's notice, is a requirement. Interested candidates should please contact Scott Kraft, national editor, at Ext. xxxxx, or Tom Furlong, deputy national editor, at Ext. xxxxx.

Sports editor Randy Harvey, who has to replace Tim Brown — the paper's lead baseball writer and to some readers the section's most stylish writer — has put out the call for a hybrid talent:

The Sports Department is seeking a general assignment reporter. The emphasis will be on baseball and soccer, although assignments will not be limited to those areas. Knowledge of sports is necessary but not sportswriting experience. Fluency in Spanish is preferred. If interested, please contact Sports Editor Randy Harvey at Ext. xxxxx.

Brown, I forgot to mention last week, won the journalist of the year honor from the L.A. Press Club last year.