Michelle Cole, a former Statehouse reporter for the Twin Falls Times-News and Idaho Statesman, is leaving The Oregonian for Gallatin Public Affairs. Cole will be the firm's first director of content and research, according to a news release. Gallatin has offices in Boise, Portland, Seattle and Spokane. Cole will remain in Portland. Cole also was an editor at the Statesman, which she left in 1999 for the Oregonian in Portland. Cole was the paper's bureau chief at the Statehouse in Salem/Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman. More here. (Oregonian staff photo of Michelle Cole)

Question: If I were still a Catholic, I'd light a candle every time a reporter opted for a job in public relations. I can understand it. More money, better benefits -- and more security. But I still hate to see journalists flee the profession. How about you?

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