WASHINGTON, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The Pentagon has chosen Geoff Morrell, a ABC News journalist, as its news spokesman to improve media relations, the Politico reported on Monday.

    Morrell, 38, will become a familiar face of the administration on television and the Web.

    Pentagon officials were quoted as saying that the move was aimed to improve press relations at a time when the administration is under pressure to show progress in Iraq.

    Morrell's title will be a deputy assistant secretary of defense and will function as Pentagon press secretary and Gates' personal spokesman.

    After joining ABC News in Chicago in 2000, Morrell covered two presidential elections and the Iraq war.