Tom Blair returns to the U-T.

^{Courtesy photo}

Former San Diego Magazine editor-in-chief Tom Blair is returning to his writing roots by reviving the popular column he once wrote for The San Diego Union-Tribune. That decision was made public today by Union-Tribune editor Jeff Light, on the same day the most recent spate of layoffs for the newspaper were announced.

"We will have a new mix of skills in our newsroom, and, in some cases, a new mix of people," says Light. "Most of our staff will remain in place. But we do have new people arriving, and others departing."

Light also announced that the news staff will be organized around topic experts, and that a seven-person watchdog team will be added to create more in-depth coverage.

In a text message, Blair confirmed he was about to re-start his newspaper work after a 15-year hiatus.

"I'll be reviving my Tom Blair city column and posting and chatting with readers on SignOn [the paper's Web site]," Blair says. "I also hope to work with SignOn radio; and, seperate from the paper, TV commentary is in discussions. I expect my first column will appear a week from Sunday, the 27th."

Blair resigned from San Diego Magazine in April, as former owner Jim Fitzpatrick re-assumed ownership of the monthly magazine. Blair started as a reporter for the San Diego Evening Tribune in 1972. Ten years later, he became columnist for the Tribune's sister paper, the San Diego Union. Blair was hired by Fitzpatrick to edit San Diego Magazine in 1995.