Maria Shriver to Rejoin NBC News as Special Correspondent

The former first lady of California is returning to her journalism roots

Maria Shriver will "be back"… to NBC News, anyway.

OK, maybe too soon for a "Terminator" joke, but the former two-decade long NBC News journalist is set to return after leaving to focus on her work as first lady of California. Shriver broke the news Tuesday morning on Twitter.

Shriver, who has stayed active in charity work and appeared on the "Today" show in March, will focus on women's issues at NBC News. According to a statement from the network, Shriver's duties will include covering the "shifting roles, emerging power and evolving needs of women in modern life.”

Also read: David Axelrod Joins NBC News, MSNBC as Senior Analyst

“I’ve always believed that television can inspire and elevate humanity, and that’s my mission with this new partnership,” said Shriver in a statement. “I look forward to shining a light on all areas of a woman's experience – from faith and finances, wellness and work, to relationships and the new realities of modern life- and exploring these issues in a way that brings the voices of men into these critically important conversations.”

Shriver's reporting will appear across NBC News platforms including CNBC, MSNBC and NBC Sports. She will also take on the editor-at-large duties for women's issues across NBC News digital properties.

Her deal is non-exclusive, so Shriver is free to continue to work on outside projects, including producing her series of multi-platform investigative "Shriver Reports." The next installment is slated for 2014 and will examine the financial insecurity among American women. NBC News will have exclusive access to those projects.

NBCUniversal News Group chairman Pat Fili-Krushel, said, "Through her reports, her books, her events, her activism and the powerful social community that she has built, Maria Shriver has become a leading voice for empowering women and inspiring all of us to be architects of change in our lives. We are delighted that Maria will play such a key role in our efforts to examine this important topic, and all of us at the NBC family are excited to welcome her home."

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