Veteran reporter Josh Margolin of The Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J., the state's largest daily paper, is departing for a reporting spot at the New York Post.

Margolin, considered by many in New Jersey to be among the best daily reporters in the state, was part of the team credited for the paper's 2005 Pulitzer Prize for coverage of former Gov. James McGreevey's resignation.

Margolin, 40, said his leaving has nothing to do with the paper's recent cutbacks and buyout program. He said he just wanted to cover New York City.

“It is an opportunity to cover a bigger area,” he said. “It has nothing to do with the conditions at The Ledger. If it were, I might have taken one of the previous buyout offers.”

He added, “The most important part is that it is covering New York.”

His last day at the Star-Ledger is Nov. 26. He starts at the Post on Dec. 6