Washington Examiner growing ... Washington Times shrinking

These are not good days for the Washington Times as they cut back, slash, lay off, and lose their best and brightest to competitor Washington Examiner where Michael Barone and Byron York already reside.

Politico is reporting:

Examiner owner Phil Anschutz, a publicity-shy billionaire who gives generously to Republican causes, has allowed the Examiner to expand while so many papers across the country contract. Additions over the past year have included Byron York, Michael Barone and David Freddoso. Anschutz also bought The Weekly Standard from Rupert Murdoch over the summer.

The Examiner has picked up syndicated columnists Bill O'Reilly, Michelle Malkin, David Limbaugh, Pat Buchanan, and John Stossel. It reached out to Virginia bloggers months ago, a strategic move on their behalf, and offers conservative news at a time when liberal newspapers are struggling:

"We want to be a place where people who are center-right in their views can come and find almost all of the leading commentators working that territory, with the exception of The Wall Street Journal,” said Examiner Editor Stephen Smith.

H/T Rick