Jon Plus 8 & The New Kate…

Jon Gosselin is dating tabloid reporter Kate Major.

The Star Magazine celebrity snitch confirmed that she and the legally-separated father of 8 are an item in a statement to the publication late Wednesday.

“I didn’t mean it to happen, it just did,” says Kate, 26. “I went to do a story on Jon and ended up falling for him.”

The surprise news means that Jon and 22-year-old playdate Hailey Glassman, daughter of his wife’s plastic surgeon, are dunzo.

Kate has reported on the Jon & Kate Plus 8 star’s family drama with his estranged wife — the other Kate — for several months. On Wednesday evening — five days after they were first photographed together –Jon and his new Kate joined Michael Lohan, father of actress Lindsay Lohan, and a guest for dinner in New York City’s The Hamptons.