Steindler said: "Jossip's been an amazing experience, but the opportunity to report for Page Six is something I just couldn't pass up."

Others were less reluctant to pass up a similar opportunity earlier this year. When Page Six editor Richard Johnson set out to replace his freelancers with a full-timer after the Jared Paul Stern scandal, more than a half-dozen prospective candidates declined to pursue the opportunity. Eventually Johnson hired Bill Hoffman from within the Post, to join Paula Froelich and Chris Wilson on the gossip staff.

In August, Wilson accepted a position at Maxim, leaving a new vacancy among the Sixers. This week, Steindler met with Johnson and editor-in-chief Col Allen and was offered the position.

So how will Steindler--who started blogging at Jossip in December 2005-- adjust from riffing on the morning's news to reporting into the wee hours for the Post? "I don't want it to be looked at as a huge leap to what I'm doing now," Steindler said. "It's just more high profile, and more corporate. But other than that, I'll be doing the same work--just for Richard."

-Michael Calderone