Joel Achenbach Biography

Joel Leroy Achenbach is an American staff writer for The Washington Post and the author of seven books, including A Hole at the Bottom of the Sea, The Grand Idea, Captured by Aliens, It Looks Like a President only Smaller, and three compilations of his former syndicated newspaper column “Why Things Are”.

He is a contributor to many publications, including Slate and National Geographic, where he is a former monthly columnist. Mr. Achenbach has been a commentator on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition and does occasional lectures and other speaking engagements.

In addition to his work in the print version of The Washington Post, Achenbach was one of the first Post writers to have a significant presence on the Internet and formerly wrote the popular Post blog, “The Achenblog,” which ended in March 2017.

Joel Achenbach Age

Joel Leroy Achenbach is an American staff writer for The Washington Post and the author of seven books, including A Hole at the Bottom of the Sea, The Grand Idea, Captured by Aliens, It Looks Like a President only Smaller, and three compilations of his former syndicated newspaper column “Why Things Are”.

He was born on December 31, 1960, in Gainesville, FL. Joel Leroy Achenbach is 58 years old as of 2018

Joel Achenbach Background and Education

Achenbach is a native of Gainesville, Florida and graduated from Princeton University in 1982 with a B. A. degree in Politics. Prior to his tenure with The Washington Post in 1990, Achenbach was a staff writer for the Miami Herald from 1982–90, where he worked closely with Pulitzer Prize winners Gene Weingarten and Dave Barry.

Achenbach was awarded the Philip J. Klass Award for outstanding contributions in promoting critical thinking and scientific understanding for 2011, by National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS).

Joel Achenbach Style and experience

Members of the Achenblog have described Achenbach as writing with versatility and deft humor. As a reporter and an author, he has covered topics as diverse as presidential elections, George Washington, the national deficit, the war in Iraq, the search for extraterrestrial life, the space program, and climate change.

In addition to scientific and analytical sophistication, Achenbach’s work has been characterized by members of the Achenblog as having a strong appreciation for and sensitivity to the human aspects of his stories.

In the months after the Deepwater Horizon Disaster, Achenbach wrote and contributed to an extensive series of articles for The Washington Post that led to his most recent book, A Hole at the Bottom of the Sea.

Joel Achenbach Misconduct allegations and suspension

On January 10, 2018, The Washington Post suspended Achenbach for 90 days because of what it called “inappropriate workplace conduct” involving current and former female colleagues. After the conclusion of the suspension, Achenbach returned to work as a reporter for the Washington Post.

Joel Achenbach Wife, Family life

Joel Leroy Achenbach is an American staff writer for The Washington Post and the author of seven books, including A Hole at the Bottom of the Sea, The Grand Idea, Captured by Aliens, It Looks Like a President only Smaller, and three compilations of his former syndicated newspaper column “Why Things Are”.

Achenbach lives in Washington, DC with his wife, Mary Stapp, and their three daughters. Mary Stapp is 44 years old and was born on 09/18/1974.

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Post reporter Joel Achenbach suspended for 90 days for ‘inappropriate workplace conduct’

The Washington Post suspended reporter Joel Achenbach on Wednesday for what it called “inappropriate workplace conduct” involving current and former female colleagues.

Achenbach, a veteran reporter, is the first Post journalist to be disciplined for the misconduct of this kind since a wave of sexual-harassment allegations began roiling through news outlets and other organizations in the wake of revelations about Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein in early October.

The Post said Achenbach would be suspended for 90 days without pay, the most severe newsroom punishment the paper has handed out in recent years for violations of its workplace or journalistic standards. His suspension began immediately.

The paper’s top news managers declined to describe Achenbach’s misconduct in detail and said the investigation into his behavior took two months.

“We have investigated the allegations made against Joel, and based on the facts that The Post has gathered to date we have placed him on a 90-day disciplinary suspension for inappropriate workplace conduct,” Managing Editor Tracy Grant said in a statement.

“The Washington Post is committed to providing a safe and respectful work environment for all employees. We will continue to investigate any allegations that come to light and will take further action if necessary.”

Grant declined to comment further, citing privacy reasons.
Achenbach also would not elaborate in an interview on Wednesday. He instead referred to a statement: “I’m very sorry to say that I’ve behaved badly and have been suspended by The Post for three months for inappropriate workplace conduct.

I’ve said and done things that were unprofessional, and I apologize to the women affected by this and acknowledge their courage in speaking out.” He added that he found The Post’s disciplinary process fair and cooperated with it.

A memorandum Grant sent to Achenbach spelling out the terms of his suspension doesn’t include details of the allegations against him. It said, however, that the disciplinary action was based on interviews with current and former colleagues and with Achenbach himself.

It also said he admitted engaging in the conduct in question and that he would face further punishment, including the possible termination of his employment if new information or allegations arise.

A copy of the memo was sent to the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild, Local 32035, which represents Post newsroom employees in labor-management negotiations.

Achenbach, 57, is one of The Post’s longest-serving and most versatile writers. He joined the paper in 1990 from the Miami Herald and has worked for the Style section, Sunday magazine, Outlook section, and National staff. He started the paper’s first online-only column, called “Rough Draft,” and with “Achenblog” was among the paper’s earliest bloggers.

For the past decade, he has covered science news and features. Achenbach has also written for National Geographic magazine and published several books, including an account of the BP oil, spilled titled, “A Hole at the Bottom of the Sea: The Race to Kill the BP Oil Gusher.

“The Post has been among the leading publications in reporting on workplace harassment since the New York Times published its first exposé on Weinstein three months ago.

The Post broke several stories about misconduct by public figures, most prominently Roy Moore, the Alabama Republican Senate candidate who was accused of sexually inappropriate behavior with teenage girls when he was in his 30s. Moore lost a special runoff election in December to Democrat Doug Jones.

A number of figures in journalism, government and entertainment have lost their careers and reputations in the wake of the Weinstein story, including TV hosts Charlie Rose and Matt Lauer, Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), political pundit Mark Halperin, actor Kevin Spacey and radio legend Garrison Keillor.

The Post’s decision to suspend rather than fire Achenbach mirrors the Times’s disciplinary action against its White House reporter, Glenn Thrush, who was suspended for two months and removed from covering the president following a lengthy investigation of misconduct that occurred when he was a reporter at Politico.

Washington Post suspends reporter for ‘inappropriate workplace conduct’

Washington Post reporter Joel Achenbach has been suspended for 90 days over “inappropriate workplace conduct,” according to a Post report.

In his statement to the Post reporter, Achenbach, a science and politics reporter, admitted to the misconduct but did not specify the nature of the claims made against him, only confirming that “women” were the victims.

“I’m very sorry to say that I’ve behaved badly and have been suspended by The Post for three months for inappropriate workplace conduct,” Achenbach said in his statement.

“I’ve said and done things that were unprofessional, and I apologize to the women affected by this and acknowledge their courage in speaking out,” he added.

Washington Post managing editor Tracy Grant confirmed the suspension in the Post report, adding that claims against the staff writer would continue to be investigated.

“We have investigated the allegations made against Joel, and based on the facts that The Post has gathered to date we have placed him on a 90-day disciplinary suspension for inappropriate workplace conduct,” Grant said.

“The Washington Post is committed to providing a safe and respectful work environment for all employees. We will continue to investigate any allegations that come to light and will take further action if necessary,” she added.

Achenbach has written for the Post for decades, joining the newspaper in 1990 and covering diverse topics from the Iraq War to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Achenbach’s suspension follows similar punishments against other major media figures, including The New York Times’s Glenn Thrush who was suspended over sexual misconduct allegations in November.

Other journalists, including Matt Lauer, Mark Halperin, and Charlie Rose have seen their contracts end after sexual misconduct allegations came to light.

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