12.16.15

USA Today announced that political writer Jill Lawrence will join the paper’s editorial board on January 4 as commentary editor. She was a columnist for the Associated Press and a freelance magazine and newspaper writer before joining the USA Today in July 1996. Beginning in 2016, Ms. Lawrence will be editing opinion pieces and doing some writing herself. USA Today Editorial Page Editor Bill Sternberg joined the chorus of congratulations for Ms. Lawrence on social media, saying“We’re thrilled too!” in response to Ms. Lawrence’s own announcement.

Ms. Lawrence started her journalism career with UPI in Charleston, WV. She joined the AP in Harrisburg, PA in 1979 and moved to Washington for the wire service in 1982. She lives in Washington with her two sons and her husband, John Martin, who is managing editor of Governing Magazine.