Channel 4 News appoints Michael Crick as political correspondent

Newsnight's Michael Crick is to join Channel 4 News as its new political correspondent. Crick becomes the latest high-profile BBC News departure, following the exit of Matt Frei and Jackie Long , also to Channel 4 News, and Laura Kuenssberg, who is joining ITV News . Crick takes the role vacated by Cathy Newman, who is becoming one of the regular presenters of Channel 4 News alongside Jon Snow and Krishnan Guru-Murthy. He was a founding member of the Channel 4 News team when the programme launched in 1982. Crick joined the BBC in 1990, first on Panorama, switching to Newsnight two years later. At ITN-produced Channel 4 News he will work alongside the programme's political editor, Gary Gibbon. The Channel 4 News editor, Jim Gray, said: "It's thrilling to have an established, experienced name like Michael join our team. "He has a remarkable track record of finding things out that people don't want unearthed. He is a formidable investigative journalist. With him in this role, and Gary continuing to lead our coverage as political editor, we have the perfect political team in place." Crick said: "Channel 4 News has a reputation for an in-depth, analytical and cheeky approach to politics, and I look forward to delivering exactly that. "Whilst I am sad to leave Newsnight after 19 happy years, I have always admired Gary Gibbon's journalism and it's fantastic to be returning to my ITN roots to join him and the rest of the Channel 4 News team." • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email [email protected] or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication". • To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook .