Exclusive:

After a year-long stint at Gatecrasher, gossip girl Laura Schreffler (right) is ditching the Daily Snooze in favor of a new gig as senior writer for OK! magazine, leaving the features managing editor (and intimidating Irishwoman) Orla Healy behind in favor of buxom Brit Sarah Ivens.

And with Schreffler originally slated to take a features position in the Daily News' Los Angeles bureau, some PR insiders are already whispering that some last minute "drama" and/or internal conflict was the cause for the split.

Schreffler is quick to dispel those rumors, however, insisting she left Orla and the Daily News on "great terms," and explaining "I just didn't feel that being a hard news reporter was the right move for me." (In which case, OK! magazine was definitely the way to go!)

Meanwhile, there are plenty of other changes afoot at the New York Daily News.

With Schreffler gone, Ben Widdicombe (gossip columnist and party-maker extraordinaire) is reportedly still looking for a permanent No. 2, while RushMo's already found their newest assistant in former sex scribe Shallon Lester.

Morevoer, R&M alum Jo Piazza (a Daily News veteran best known for her investigative reporting style) is officially back at NYC headquarters as the News' celebrity showbiz editor.

Obligatory Disclaimer: We know and/or have allegiances to practically every single person mentioned in this story, with the exception of Sarah Ivens, whom we've only read about ad nauseum and Shallon Lester, whom we're extremely curious to meet.