FIRST OFF . . .

Jack Smith, CBS News’ bureau chief in Washington since 1981, is being reassigned to the division’s special events unit, as a senior producer of political coverage in the coming presidential election year. CBS, in announcing the shift Thursday, said Joe Peyronnin, deputy chief of the CBS News bureau in Washington, will succeed Smith as bureau chief. The move is effective Aug. 7. Both men joined CBS’ Washington news staff after working for CBS-owned WBBM-TV in Chicago and the network’s Midwest bureau in that city.