That Was Fast: Bill Keller’s NYT Mag Column Will End In September

Bill Keller will fold his New York Times Magazine column this September, the same month that sees Keller handing over the reins to incoming NYT executive editor Jill Abramson.

Keller will continue at the paper as an op-ed columnist.

He emailed Women’s Wear Daily to explain the decision to fold his magazine column:

The magazine column has been fun — and I’ve loved being part of Hugo’s relaunch — but op-ed has greater license to have opinions, and a day-before deadline.

While we’d hesitate to call Keller’s magazine column “beloved,” New York Times Magazine editor Hugo Lindgren said he enjoyed the controversy Keller’s column often stirred up, such as his criticism of The Huffington Post, describing the site as being little more than kitten videos with a “left-wing soundtrack.”

WWD also offers this tidbit:

Keller’s correction rate on the column works out to 41.6 percent.

“Thanks for noticing the corrections,” said Keller. “I don’t think any of them undermined the point of the column, but every one made me wince. And I’ve gotten better with practice, so there’s probably hope for me.”

h/t WWD

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