Jon Thurber
The Los Angeles Times has named a new book editor to replace David Ulin, who ran the section for five years. In yet another terse press release, the paper announced unceremoniously that managing editor Jon Thurber will now be sitting at Ulin’s former desk. Thurber was named managing editor/print in July 2009 and is a 38-year veteran of the paper.
Editor Russ Stanton, who wrote the release, does not provide any details of any literary writing nor any experience Thurber has had working in the book industry. Rather than explaining why Ulin got the job, Stanton spends most of the release bragging about Thurber’s obituary skills: “Jon spent 11 years as obituary editor, building our coverage into some of the best in the country. He also led by example, penning more than 400 obits during his time as editor.”
Readers will surely miss Ulin’s perceptive writing. One of my personal favorites was “The Lost Art of Reading.”