Staff Writer
ATL Open · verified Sep 25, 2026 At a glance
Senior Copywriting role at ATL. 2 Locations · full-time.
In listing Copywriting salary
Growth Roles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Report on food culture, from dining trends and food science to changes in everyday consumption
- Develop original stories about what culinary moments reveal about how people live
- Break news and deliver stylish, humorous analysis for a broad audience
- Cultivate sources, collaborate with editors, meet deadlines, and shift focus as needed
What you bring
- Bring substantial reporting experience from general-interest publications
- Show deep knowledge of food culture and turn ideas into deftly reported, polished stories
- Apply strong editorial judgment, accuracy, quality standards, and journalistic ethics
- Know The Atlantic well and evaluate trends with healthy skepticism
- Communicate effectively with editors and sources while welcoming varied perspectives
Who this fits
You’ll fit this role if you want to write frequently about food culture with authority, curiosity, and humor, rather than primarily reviewing restaurants. You can be based in New York City or Washington, D.C.; remote work may also be considered. This is a Guild position, and employment requires COVID-19 vaccination and boosters, subject to stated accommodations.
From the employer
The Atlantic is seeking a creative and experienced reporter to cover the world of food. This writer will be relentlessly curious about culinary culture and why we eat and drink the way we do.
The ideal candidate will be well-versed in magazine journalism and eager to produce fascinating stories across a wide-ranging beat that includes unexpected dining or lifestyle trends, the far reaches of food science, the real meaning of culinary obsessions, and much more. It might involve interrogating how chains fit into American culture, or digging into changes in how people consume fruit or condiments or snacks, and why those shifts matter. (Note: With some possible exceptions, this role will not be focused on writing restaurant reviews.) You should have an eye for original ideas and the ability to write clearly and stylishly about them for a wide audience. And you’ll have an instinct for what’s in the zeitgeist, capable of both breaking news and sharply analyzing what a particular culinary moment says about how we live today—and you should have a sense of humor about it all.
Qualifications of the ideal candidate:
Substantial experience as a reporter for general-interest publications
A deep interest in food culture and an understanding of how to translate compelling ideas into deftly reported and beautifully written stories
Impeccable editorial judgment, high standards for quality and accuracy, and a facility with the ethics and rigors of journalism
Deep familiarity with The Atlantic
A great eye for spotting—and a healthy skepticism about—trends
An ability to work quickly, meet deadlines, and switch gears as needed
Interest in and openness to a wide variety of views and perspectives
A desire to write frequently, with authority and humor
An ability to communicate effectively with both editors and the deep bench of sources you’ll be cultivating
Salary minimum: $120,000; Salary maximum: $180,000
This job is based in New York City or Washington, D.C. Remote candidates may also be considered.
This is a Guild position.
About The Atlantic:
The Atlantic has, for more than 160 years, advanced ideas that matter and sparked global conversation on the most important issues of our time. We aim to bring clarity and original thinking to questions of consequence, on topics ranging from politics, the economy, and global affairs to technology, science, and culture. As the third-longest-running magazine in America, we find ourselves at a remarkable moment: one of both continuation and transformation, of upholding our legacy while continuously reinventing ourselves for the future.
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The Atlantic Monthly Group LLC ("The Atlantic") is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Atlantic is committed to diversity and encourages members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, LGBTQ people, people of color, and people with disabilities. We do not discriminate against our applicants because of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law.
Job offers to work at The Atlantic are contingent upon the candidate’s successful completion of reference checks and compliance with The Atlantic's COVID-19 vaccination policy. The Atlantic requires all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, including subsequent boosters, and submit proof of vaccination status. Employees who cannot receive the vaccine because of a disability/medical contraindication or sincerely-held religious belief may request an accommodation (e.g., an exemption) to this requirement.
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