CNN Raids Politico For Growing Digital Politics Team

NEW YORK - CNN hired three Politico journalists Wednesday as part of the network's bid to expand its digital politics team.

Politico Congress editor Steven Sloan has joined CNN Politics Digital as assistant managing editor for enterprise reporting and Politico deputy breaking news editor Jedd Rosche is now the team's breaking news editor. Moving along with them is Politico Pros Eric Bradner, who FishbowlDC reported Wednesday has joined as a breaking news reporter.

CNN Digital managing editor Meredith Artley told HuffPost that the network is trying to up its game in the political sphere" across television and digital. She credited Rachel Smolkin , a former top editor at Politico who started last month as executive editor for CNN Politics Digital, with telling the network where it needed to grow online.

While CNN is currently reducing its staff through a company-wide voluntary buyout program, network executives have said that digital and mobile remain areas for growth. The new hires suggest CNN is looking to compete with high-metabolism political news sites like Politico. They come as Bloomberg Politics prepares to launch and other news organizations staff up in anticipation of the 2016 election.

Artley said CNN Politics Digital will continue hiring and plans to roll out new initiatives when ready, such as last week's launch of Hambycast, a roving video series featuring national political reporter Peter Hamby.