ROSSLYN, Va. - Allbritton Communications, the parent company of WJLA, NewsChannel 8 and Politico, is launching a new Web-based media venture, designed to be the region's one-stop site for local news.

"[W]e are planning to launch a local-news website that will harness the power of the Web, social media and new technology to connect Washingtonians with each other and with the information that matters most in their family, civic and work lives," Chief Executive Robert Allbritton wrote Wednesday in a company-wide e-mail announcing the venture.

"I am committed to making our new enterprise among the nation's most ambitious and innovative projects of its kind. We will launch a new model that will test ideas for harnessing the power of the Internet. It will connect and empower local communities in a way that will engage readers and viewers throughout the greater Washington area."

The project will use the news-gathering capability of ABC 7 and NewsChannel 8's staff of nearly 200 people. A further 50 people will be hired for the site, which will use the continuous newsroom concept to "connect and empower local communities in a way that will engage readers and viewers throughout the greater Washington area."

Allbritton recruited Jim Brady, the former editor of WashingtonPost.com, for the site.

"Jim is an important pioneer in new media, and he shares our fascination with the exciting possibilities that exist for marrying the power of technology to a deep commitment to local news," Allbritton wrote in the e-mail.

The venture will be separate from Politico, which Allbritton launched in 2007. The political news Web site has become a must-read for political junkies worldwide. Allbritton said the new endeavor will "take many of the good lessons our company has learned with that successful experience (Politico) and apply them in a new setting."

The yet-to-be named site, which will replace WJLA.com and News8.net, is scheduled to launch in the spring.

CLICK HERE to read to the e-mail announcement.

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