Kimberly Atkins departs Herald and joins WBUR

Kimberly Atkins is leaving the Boston Herald and will join WBUR as the radio station’s first Washington D.C.-based correspondent on Feb. 4.

Atkins, who’s also an MSNBC contributor, interrupted her vacation to share the news on Twitter: “On Monday, I will begin a new career chapter as the Washington-based senior news correspondent for @WBUR, Boston’s @NPRnews station,’’ she tweeted. “(I will also continue to be an @MSNBC contributor.)’’

[fragment number=0]

Atkins worked at the Herald from 2004 to 2007 as a political reporter. She became the paper’s Washington bureau chief in 2014.

WBUR’s staff has grown significantly in the past year or so, with 37 new hires between December 2017 and November 2018, according to Kristen Holgerson, the station’s marketing and promotions director.

“For the first time, WBUR news will have its own Washington-based journalist,’’ Tom Melville, WBUR’s news director, wrote in an e-mail to staff.

Though Atkins will remain in Washington, the move is a homecoming of sorts. Atkins holds two degrees from Boston University, a J.D. from the School of Law and a master’s degree in mass communication from the College of Communication.

“. . . Unfortunately I have no video of me dancing atop a building to share, so instead please enjoy these #tbt pics of me as a brand new BU student and as a newly-minted alum. #GoTerriers!’’ Atkins tweeted, along with pictures of herself at BU.

JENNI TODD