Within the World of Cultural Journalism, No News is Good News, Until Further Notice

Frank Wilson, the book-review editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer, is stepping down as of Friday.

It sounds like this came at him out of the blue -- rather like being informed that that most of his freelance budget was being cut, as he once mentioned happening. (He told the story during an NBCC event a couple of years ago, which was when I got the chance finally to meet him.)

It is troubling to hear about this. Somebody once defined "cool" as knowing how to get a dollar out of fifteen cents. By that measure Frank' has been one of the coolest gentlemen in the business.

I am sorry never to have had an opportunity to work with him -- and actually pretty shaken by the announcement. It is hard to imagine a circumstance in which this development makes any sense.

UPDATE: Another tribute.

And another.