Pedersen leaving public-affairs job

Wes Pedersen is stepping down from his role as communications director at the Public Affairs Council after 26 years at the job.

Pedersen, 83, will continue to consult on public-affairs issues from his home and work as a columnist at Impact, the council's newsletter.

The Public Affairs Council is a trade group for public-affairs professionals.

In addition to his continuing work for the Council, Pedersen also plans to write two books: one on public affairs, the other on the Central Intelligence Agency.

Before joining the Council, Pedersen worked for the U.S. Information Agency. While there he worked as the director of special publications.

His columns on foreign affairs ran in newspapers across the country under pseudonyms such as Paul L. Ford and Benjamin West.

The Council expects to name a replacement to Pedersen in the next couple of months.