Alexandra Petri, one of America’s greatest columnists and funniest writers, is joining The Atlantic as a staff writer. Alexandra will begin writing for The Atlantic next month; she has been a long-time columnist for The Washington Post, where she started as an intern in 2010.
Below is the staff announcement about Alexandra from editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg:
Dear everyone,
I’m writing today to share the outstanding news that Alexandra Petri, one of America’s greatest columnists – and funniest writers – is joining The Atlantic as a staff writer. You are undoubtedly familiar with her work as a columnist for The Washington Post (although you may have seen her writing in McSweeneys, The New Yorker, or other publications), and I’m beyond thrilled that she is coming aboard.
Alexandra is brilliant and hilarious, wildly creative and adventurous. Her columns for The Post have been the favorites of readers for years. No one cuts to the heart of the matter faster or more incisively than Alexandra. And even those among us who don’t laugh out loud as they read columns laugh out loud while reading hers.
Alexandra appears to believe that no experience should be left unexperienced, which is why she entered and performed in an international whistling competition without actually knowing how to whistle. Then there was the time she made what was later described as the “worst final Jeopardy! wager of all time.” She somewhat recently achieved her lifelong dream of being a talking head in a documentary about our 23rd president, Benjamin Harrison. Alexandra is the winner of the 2025 Thurber Prize for American Humor—for her book, AP’s US History: Important American Documents I Made Up. She also received an award for her parody Twitter account (Emo Kylo Ren). And she is an O. Henry International pun-off champion (You can watch her winning performance here).
Alexandra begins with us next month. I can’t wait for all of you to meet her, and I can’t wait to read her. Please join me in welcoming Alexandra to The Atlantic.
Best wishes,
Jeff
The Atlantic has announced a number of new hires this year as part of a major editorial expansion, including managing editor Griff Witte; staff writers Isaac Stanley-Becker, Tyler Austin Harper, Nick Miroff, Ashley Parker, Missy Ryan, Michael Scherer, Jamie Thompson, Josh Tyrangiel, and Caity Weaver; senior editors Jenna Johnson and Dan Zak; and contributing writers Jonathan Lemire and Alex Reisner. Please reach out with any questions or requests.
Press Contacts: Anna Bross and Paul Jackson, The Atlantic | [email protected]
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