MARK WHITAKER TO REPLACE TIM RUSSERT

NBC News veteran Mark Whitaker will take over duties as Washington bureau chief in the post held by Tim Russert, who died in June. Whitaker is currently, and will remain, the Senior Vice President of NBC News.

What many folks don't know that Whitaker was the brains behind the "African American Women: Where they Stand" special that ran for a week last winter on NBC, hosted by Rehema Ellis. Congrats to Mr. Whitaker.