Garance Franke-Ruta, a senior editor for national politics at The Atlantic, is heading to Yahoo News, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Yahoo has been expanding in recent months, with New York Times political writer Matt Bai joining in November.
Franke-Ruta joined The Atlantic in 2010 and previously worked at The Washington Post, American Prospect, New Republic, and Washington City Paper. She was also a Shorenstein fellow at Harvard and has taught journalism at Georgetown University.
A Yahoo News spokesman confirmed the move, but had no further comment.
Update 9:00 a.m.: Franke-Ruta confirmed the news in a email to colleagues below:
What a treat it has been to spend the last three years at this more than 150-year-old magazine as it innovates a digital future for the 21st century. Working with you all has been a privilege, an honor, and a heck of a lot of fun.
So many moments stand out. Not just for the incredible journalism that we did together--winning the National Magazine Award this spring for best website was kind of cool--but for your collegiality, your good humor, and your boundless creativity.
As I cleaned out my office last week, so much came flooding back to me. Staying up late for every one of the endless GOP primary debates. New Year's Eve with Molly at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in Des Moines, surrounded by statues to grains. Misty, windy Tampa. Holding down the Charlotte Team Politics headquarters with David. Aspen, and the bear. All those evenings watching the sunset from the Watergate roof, informally workshopping ideas and thinking through how to build the best possible editorial operation, as helicopters followed the curve of the Potomac stretched out before us.
Throughout it all, I have treasured your inventiveness, your enthusiasm, and, most of all, your friendships. Thank you for the last few years, and to Bob and James and John, thank you for the opportunity to share in this moment in the magazine's long history. (Stay tuned for word from Bob on a farewell gathering later this week.)
I'll be starting a new job at Yahoo News soon, about which more at that time. In the meantime, you can reach me as ever by gmail [redacted], Twitter @thegarance, or text [redacted].
With deep affection,
Garance
Update 10:45 p.m.:
Atlantic digital editor Bob Cohn emailed staff Monday morning:
As most of you know, last Friday was, sadly, Garance's final day at The Atlantic. Later this month, she moves to a small, niche site called Yahoo, where she will write and edit for the politics desk.
Garance joined us as Politics editor of TheAtlantic.com in late 2010, just after the midterm elections. Over the next three years she brought to the channel a keen understanding of the intersection of politics and policy as well as an appreciation, tuned by history, of the joy and absurdity of public Washington. And she brought to The Atlantic both Molly Ball (Politico) and David Graham (Newsweek), who along with Conor Friedersdorf made up the 2012 election team under GFR's leadership. In the last year, after handing the editing duties to David, Garance has devoted herself full-time to writing, turning in distinctive work on a range of topics.
Due to the holidays, it's been difficult to plan a farewell toast...which is why I am sending this note after GFR's official last day. Nonetheless, we have persuaded her to return this Wednesday. Please join us in the bullpen area at 6 to raise a glass.
Bob
(This post was updated with response from Yahoo News spokesman)