Lots and lots of Vermont journalists have made the soul-stifling but wallet-stuffing move from reportage to flackery — forsaking their chosen craft for the greener fields of corporate, nonprofit, and governmental “communications.” It’s almost like a natural progression: put in your time at an underfunded media operation, build a reputation and make connections, and then cash in your chips.

At first glance, the new staffer in the State Auditor’s office seems like the latest in this lineup. But this time, it’s something very different. Per Paul “The Huntsman” Heintz:

Citing a desire to increase his office’s investigative capacity, State Auditor Doug Hoffer said Monday he’s hired VTDigger reporter Andrew Stein to serve as his executive assistant.

The important clause there is “increase his office’s investigative capacity.” Because Stein won’t be crafting press releases or having plausibly innocuous kaffeeklatschen with his former fellows in the Fifth Estate; he’ll be a working investigator.

According to Hoffer, Stein will be charged with conducting research and investigations with the “rigor” of a full-blown audit, but in a shorter time frame.

… He emphasized that, unlike many ex-reporters who enter government service, Stein would not be focused on public relations.

“This is absolutely not a political job,” Hoffer said. “We don’t have political jobs at the auditor’s office. I don’t. Absolutely not.”

It’s a great fit. Stein has proven his chops as a green-eyeshade explorer of dry government documents. Hell, he even likes to do that stuff. Plus, he knows how to turn complicated policy stories into readable, understandable, and even interesting prose.

His new hire also reflects positively on VTDigger, which may be the only news entity in Vermont that would value a reporter like Stein and give him a platform on which to shine. And Digger’s loss should prove to be the Auditor’s (and our) gain.