Yahoo hires "gadget geek" Pogue in tech news push

San Francisco (AFP) - Yahoo on Monday announced that it hired New York Times reporter David Pogue to head a grand expansion of consumer-focused technology news.

Pogue's hiring came as the faded Internet search star continued a quest to redefine itself as an online venue for "premier digital content."

"David will lead a major expansion of consumer tech coverage on Yahoo and will publish columns, blog posts and video stories that demystify the gadgets, apps and technology that powers our users's daily lives," chief executive Marissa Mayer said in a blog post.

Pogue's accomplishments include being a high-profile columnist for the New York Times, an author and an Emmy-winning television correspondent.

"He also just happens to be one of the nicest and most positive people I've met," Mayer said. "He has always been one of my favorite journalists."

Pogue, 50, has covered consumer technology for more than 25 years. Yahoo said that it will begin publishing Pogue's technology stories online by the end of this year.

"We all thrive on new experiences, and as someone who loves to build cool new stuff, I'm excited to jump in head first," Pogue said in a release.