AP’s Chicago chief goes to Washington

David Scott

David Scott

David Scott, Chicago-based editor of the 14-state central region for The Associated Press, is headed to Washington, D.C., as AP’s new national political editor.

Scott, 37, will direct the news agency's national political reporting and oversee AP's coverage of the 2014 and 2016 elections under Washington bureau chief Sally Buzbee.

"The political editor job is a critical one for AP — directing our national political coverage, advising states on political reporting and working with colleagues on our race-calling, accountability, vote count and polling operations," Buzbee said in a statement. "It requires superb news skills, keen interest in both politics and policy, and strong competitive instincts. We are thrilled David is taking it on."

The post has been vacant since December when Liz Sidoti left to become head of communications for BP's U.S. operations.

Scott’s promotion closely follows AP's appointment of Tom Berman, former deputy editor for Europe, as deputy editor for the Chicago-based bureau of the news cooperative. Offices are at 440 South LaSalle Street.

Since 2009, Scott has directed day-to-day and enterprise news coverage for AP’s central region, encompassing 14 states from North Dakota to Michigan and south to Texas.

A Philadelphia native who attended the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Scott joined AP as a business reporter in St. Louis in 1999 and later worked in AP's bureaus in Kansas City and Raleigh, North Carolina.