Blake Hounshell, “a journalistic force,” dead at 44

Blake Hounshell, “a witty and astute political observer who possessed a special knack for understanding the dynamics of internet journalism and became one of the driving forces behind POLITICO’s success over nearly a decade,” died at age 44, reports POLITICO.

According to a family statement, he died “after a long and courageous battle with depression.” According to POLITICO: “The unexpected news spread rapidly through Washington and policy circles, as colleagues remembered him as a remarkable editor, generous colleague and critical mentor to younger journalists. Across his stints at Foreign Policy and POLITICO, he edited hundreds of bylines, from senior policymakers to interns, making every story sharper and every headline snappier.”

Axios described Hounshell as “a journalistic force.”

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PHOTO: POLITICO