WASHINGTON — A White House official tells The Associated Press that Jay Carney will be the next White House press secretary.

President Barack Obama has chosen Carney, the communications director to Vice President Joe Biden and a former longtime journalist with Time magazine.

Carney will replace the departing Robert Gibbs as the chief spokesman and one of the most public faces of the administration.

The decision is part of a package of new personnel changes at the White House, said the official, who spoke about them on condition of anonymity because Obama had not publicly revealed them.

Among the other moves: White House officials Alyssa Mastromonaco and Nancy-Ann DeParle will be promoted to deputy chief of staff positions.