OFFICIAL NEWS. Here is the Phoenix's press release on the return of Mark Jurkowitz:

Mark Jurkowitz, who for many years served as media critic for the Boston Phoenix before landing at the Boston Globe, is returning to the newspaper.

Jurkowitz will fill the slot opened by Dan Kennedy's move to teach full-time at Northeastern University.

Kennedy leaves the Phoenix at the end of June. Jurkowitz starts at the paper July 5.

Jurkowitz studied journalism at Boston University, edited the TAB chain of newspapers, and worked as press secretary in the unsuccessful congressional campaign of James Roosevelt (FDR's grandson) before joining the Phoenix.

For several years Jurkowitz wore two hats at the Phoenix, serving as News Editor as well as media columnist and critic.

Jurkowitz served a very brief stint as Executive Editor of Boston magazine, before being recruited to serve as the Globe's Ombudsman. After two years in that role, he became the daily's first full-time media writer.

"The media landscape is a lot different from when I first started writing about it at the Phoenix," said Jurkowitz. "Media criticism was much lonelier then. There was no Internet. No Jim Romenesko. No Reliable Sources on CNN.

"I'm coming back because media criticism really began in the alternative press. The Phoenix offers the space and the freedom of voice and the format to dig into every crevice of our media culture," Jurkowitz concluded.

In announcing the move, Phoenix editor Peter Kadzis had this to say: "Who says you can't come home again?"

Jurkowitz will carry the title of senior writer and media critic. In addition to covering the media, he will write about a broad range of subjects that will include politics and sports - his other passions. He will also write daily for the Phoenix's online publication BostonPhoenix.com, as did Kennedy. (Kennedy's media blog has attracted a robust national audience.)