Jeannine Guttman, former editor and vice president of the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, has joined U.S. Sen. Susan Collins' staff as communications director for the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Collins, the ranking Republican member of the committee, announced Guttman's hiring on Wednesday.

"Jeannine has tremendous experience working both in media and in Washington, D.C.," said Collins. "More important, she truly cares about the critical issues that affect the lives of all of us who live in Maine. I am delighted that Jeannine is joining our team."

Guttman spent 15 years at the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. She was not retained when MaineToday Media Inc. completed the purchase of the newspaper last week from the Seattle Times Co.

A career journalist, she previously worked at Gannett News Service in Washington, covered legislatures in California and Indiana, and was a congressional correspondent for States News Service.

"I'm very excited by this opportunity, which enables me to continue to serve the residents of the great state of Maine," Guttman said. "My job will be to connect the important national issues that Sen. Collins is involved in to a myriad of audiences – in Maine, in New England and nationwide."

Collins has about 25 staff members assigned to the committee, including Guttman. The panel's chairman is Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut.

The committee has jurisdiction over the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Postal Service, the federal civil service and other agencies.

Staff Writer Dieter Bradbury can be contacted at 791-6329 or at:

dbradbury@pressherald.com