'Star-Tribune' Will Keep Book Coverage

By Claire Kirch -- Publishers Weekly, 6/2/2008 10:33:00 AM

Sally Williams, a 27-year newspaper veteran and the book editor at the Minneapolis Star-Tribune since 2003, is leaving the newspaper to become public relations director of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, but Tim Campbell, senior editor, arts and entertainment, said the paper’s book coverage will remain the same. The Star-Tribune currently has two pages of book reviews on Sundays, and one-half page midweek, and Campbell said the company has begun searching for Williams replacement. The decision to keep book review coverage runs counter to the general trend in the newspaper industry to cut space devoted to books.

Together with Minnesota Public Radio and the Loft literary center, the Star-Tribune also sponsors Talking Volumes, the regional book club, now in its ninth year. Williams’s role has been key to the success of Talking Volumes as she has helped select the titles and written profiles of the authors. Campbell said there are no plans to make any changes to the club at this time.

Williams told PW that she is leaving the newspaper industry because of the financial pressures resulting from declining readership and because she was offered a “wonderful opportunity” at Planned Parenthood that she “couldn’t pass up.” Williams’s last day at the Star-Tribune is today.