Pamela Paul (born 1971 or 1972)[ is an American journalist, correspondent, editor, and author. She is writer at large for The Wall Street Journal.][ and from 2013-2022, Paul had been editor of The New York Times Book Review,][ At the Times, Paul received attention amidst controversy regarding her opinion and other writings on transgender issues, in particular with regard to medical treatment.]
Early life and education
Paul is the daughter of Carole and Jerome D. Paul,[
]
Paul graduated from Brown University in 1993 with an A.B.
Career
Paul was a contributor to Time magazine and has written for many other publications, including Vogue, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and Worth. She was a senior editor at the erstwhile magazine American Demographics,["Women walk out on the US male." Sunday Times London,, 3 Feb. 2002, p. 24. Gale OneFile: News, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A82498507/STND?u=nysl_me_wls&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=59300bd0. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.] and was a London- and New York-based correspondent for The Economist, for which she wrote a monthly arts column from 1997 to 2002, and reviewed film, theater and books.
In 2011, Paul joined The New York Times and wrote the Studied column, as well as serving as children's books editor and features editor for the Book Review,[Announcement from Sam Tanenhaus and David Kelly, February 2, 2012.][ "Job Moves", Publishers Weekly, January 21, 2011.][Diane Roback, "Pamela Paul Named Children's Books Editor at 'NYTBR'", Publishers Weekly, January 21, 2011.]
In 2013 Paul was promoted to the editorship of the Book Review.[Maran, Meredith. "'My Life with Bob' is a rollicking, intimate journey to a booklover's heart." Christian Science Monitor, 1 May 2017. Gale OneFile: News, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A490978408/STND?u=nysl_me_wls&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=f3119adc. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.] As Paul described it to C-SPAN, as reviewed by the Washington Post, "We try to bear in mind that the books that are of interest to our readers are multifaceted... There are so many distinctions that you could choose. Some people think of it very much just in terms of gender. We try to keep an eye on gender but that's just one of the factors. I would say that ethnicity and country of origin are something we pay a lot of attention to."
In 2016, her job expanded to oversee all books coverage for The New York Times—the Book Review, daily print reviews, and publishing news, both in print and online.[Kachka, Boris. "The End of the Lone-Wolf Critic: The Times after 'Voice of God' Michiko Kakutani." New York Magazine, vol. 50, no. 17, 21 Aug. 2017, pp. 36+. Gale OneFile: News, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A546025902/STND?u=nysl_me_wls&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=97bae9f2. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.]
During her time as editor, she also hosted the Book Review's weekly podcast. Under her direction, it was described as one of the best books podcasts in the world.[Donaldson, Emily. "Eleven great literary podcasts to listen to now." Globe & Mail Toronto,, 15 Aug. 2020, p. 10. Gale OneFile: News, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A632558065/STND?u=nysl_me_wls&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=ae1db77d. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.]["Playing the field; BEST OF DIGITAL & PODCASTS." Daily Telegraph London,, 14 Dec. 2013, p. 50. Gale OneFile: News, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A352815416/STND?u=nysl_me_wls&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=2c757d10. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.]
She is the author of eight books. Her first book was The Starter Marriage and the Future of Matrimony,[The Oprah Winfrey Show October 28, 2002
“What Happens after the Wedding”, cited in
What Every Groom Needs to Know, Robert Wolgemuth & Mark Devries, 2003] The Today Show,[Real Time With Bill Maher, Season 21 episode 20, November 10, 2023]["This fall is shaping up to be an exciting season for books." CBS News Sunday Morning, 24 Sept. 2017. Gale OneFile: News, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A506609768/STND?u=nysl_me_wls&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=0763f5c7. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.]["PBS NewsHour for September 22, 2017." PBS Newshour, 22 Sept. 2017. Gale OneFile: News, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A505997303/STND?u=nysl_me_wls&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=5b683580. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.]
In March 2022, she moved from the Books section to the Opinion section at the New York Times.
In 2025, Paul left the Times in a round of job cuts at the Opinion section.
Transgender coverage criticism
Since 2022, Paul has written multiple columns on transgender topics in the New York Times. These articles have been described as transphobia by some journalists and transgender activists.
Four days after publication of Paul's February 2 opinion, in an article entitled "The NYT’s Latest Op-Ed on Trans Kids Has Already Been Cited in an Anti-Trans Legal Brief", James Factora reported that Paul's article appeared as a source in a legal document authored by the Alliance Defending Freedom, challenging an injunction against an Idaho law making it a felony to provide gender-affirming care to children.
The New York Times defended itself and Paul's opinion pieces as Fact-checking according to Times standards, stating it had aimed to foster debate and open dialogue.
Personal life
Her first marriage, to Times columnist Bret Stephens,
Paul is non-Religion, and has described herself as a "nonbeliever" and a Rationalism.
Published works
Books
Selected articles
External links
