Former Post film critic joins Obama administration

Former Washington Post film critic Desson Thomson will join the Obama administration and head to London as a speechwriter for Ambassador Louis Susman. Thomson confirmed the news in an e-mail on Tuesday.

Former Post film critic Desson Thomson

Thomson, who grew up in Surrey, England, worked for The Post from 1983 to 2008, most recently as a film critic for the Weekend and Style sections.

Asked for his Oscar picks, Thomson said, "I like Hurt Locker and Inglourious Basterds the best myself, but I expect Avatar to win."

Thomson is one of at least 14 journalists to join the Obama administration, with virtually all of them serving in a communications capacity. Other reporters at national outlets are known to be considering similar roles.

Susman, a major Democratic Party donor, was nominated as ambassador to the Court of St. James's last spring.

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