The New York Times Book Review has promoted Pamela Paul to editor, replacing Sam Tanenhaus, who is stepping down after nine years and taking on a writer-at-large role at the paper. In an internal memo, the NYT says of Paul, who joined the NYTBR in 2011 as children’s editor and was more recently features editor: “Her versatility as an editor and writer has strengthened the Book Review and many other sections, including the Magazine, Education Life and Sunday Styles, where she originated the biweekly ‘Studied’ column.” Paul tells us the children’s and features editor positions haven’t been filled yet, but those are areas she “won’t be handling anymore.”
As for Tanenhaus, his writer-at-large role begins in May, where he will “take a Richard Hofstadter-like approach to reporting on the ideological and historical roots–and emerging character — of today’s roiling political movements.” Tanenhaus is also said to be still working on his biography of William F. Buckley, which was in progress even before he joined the Book Review in 2004.