The Politico has offered full-time employment to James Kotecki, a YouTube vlogger, who will henceforth make videos for the rag. He had been contracting with them until last week when the publication faced an embarrassing PR snafu after Kotecki released a video to CNN to air during an upcoming presidential debate, which was in violation of Politico’s terms of contract.

Instead of releasing him, insiders tell Big Head DC that top bosses made the decision to firm up his employment status, so they could reign in his creativity — as well as his contributions to competing outlets. Indeed, Kotecki shared via e-mail today that his personal channel on YouTube “will stay active, but it’s scope will probably change to more informal, interactive content.”

Earlier: Politico Rag Tries to Sabatoge CNN

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James Kotecki, who contracts with the Politico publication, has submitted the following YouTube video to be aired during the CNN GOP debate, scheduled for Nov. 28. Problem is, the forum isn’t supposed to be a place for journalists to ask questions, CNN insiders have told Big Head DC. So! You shouldn’t expect to see the vid air during the actual broadcast — but you gotta wonder why the Politico, which has already co-hosted a debate on MSNBC, is trying to pull a fast one on those sly CNNers.

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Our favorite controversial boy journalist James Kotecki is on fire. At the CNN YouTube debates on Monday night, he scored a pretty sexy (yet pretty geeky, too) interview with the current political “It” girl Amber Lee Ettinger. So, no, he didn’t ask her whether she met Obama, nor how much she’s getting for her upcoming Playboy spread, but he did manage to dance with her, so he’s obviously a pretty great video reporter. Watch!

Earlier: Is YouTube Boy Journalist Simply a Boy, Not a Journalist?

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We first introduced you to James Kotecki when Democratic presidential contender Mike Gravel decided to hang out in the college kid’s dorm room for a quick Q & A. Since then, several more male presidential hopefuls, including John Edwards, have visited with James for some pretty solid, quick-witted interviews that he’s posted to YouTube.

Then, sometime over the weekend, golden child Kotecki became a hated man by some embittered journalists posting on message boards throughout the Internets: Read more…

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