James Bennet

“I wanted a profound and extreme talent who led quietly, was generous to others, and comported himself with collegial respect,” remarked Atlantic Media chairman David Bradley when announcing his selection of James Bennet as the magazine’s fourteenth editor-in-chief in early 2006. “On all scores, but surely these, I have conviction on James’ appointment.”

Before joining the Atlantic staff, Bennet was the Jerusalem bureau chief for The New York Times. During his three years in Israel, his coverage of the Middle East conflict was widely acclaimed for its balance and sensitivity. His much-lauded long-form writing for The New York Times Magazine was responsible for catching the eye of David Bradley during his year-long search for a new editor. Upon accepting the position, Bennet told a Times reporter that he saw the Atlantic job as “a chance to help, encourage and preserve the practice of serious, long-form journalism.”

Bennet is a graduate of Yale University who began his journalism career at The Washington Monthly. Prior to his work in Jerusalem, he served as the Times’ White House correspondent and was preparing to join its Beijing bureau when he was offered the Atlantic editorship.