Talkshow Host to Become White House Press Chief

A presenter on Rupert Murdoch's Fox News is set to become President George Bush's new press secretary, according to reports in the US.

Tony Snow, who presents a daily radio talkshow and co-hosts a weekend TV show, is likely to be appointed later today.

Snow, 50, will replace Scott McClellan, who resigned last week as part of a staff shakeup at the White House.

Although Snow has sometimes been critical of Mr Bush, he has made no secret of his admiration for the president.

Writing online earlier this year after the state of the union address, he delivered glowing praise for the president.

"Make no mistake: despite the shortcomings in the speech, George W Bush is the only figure who counts in American politics," he wrote.

"On the seminal issues of national security and global destiny, he positively dwarfs the political opposition."

Snow's morning radio show is syndicated across Fox News stations in America.

His TV programme, Weekend Live, which he co-hosts with Brian Wilson, is broadcast at midday on Saturday and Sunday.

Snow started out as a journalist in 1979 and has worked for newspapers including the Detroit News and the Washington Times.

For two years he was the speechwriting director in the White House for Mr Bush's father and later became deputy assistant to the president for media affairs.

He wrote a syndicated newspaper column between 1993 and 2002, and joined Fox News in 1996.