Washington Post to Stop Publishing Book World Section

Posted on January 28, 2009

Newspaper book sections have been shrinking and disappearing over the past few years. Now another paper's book section can be added to the list. The Washington Post is closing its Book World section and moving reviews to other sections of the paper.

According to reports from Book World employees, the last issue of Book World will appear in its tabloid print version on Feb. 15 but will continue to be published online as a distinct entity. In the printed newspaper, Sunday book content will be split between Outlook, the opinion and commentary section, and Style & Arts.
Book World was one of the last remaining stand-alone book review sections in the country, along with The New York Times Book Review. The Washington Post’s move comes as the company, like most other newspaper businesses across the country, has been hobbled by a protracted downturn in advertising.

In an article about the loss of its own book section the Washington Post says the section will still exist online: "Book World will live on in digital form, as a site on washingtonpost.com that will include not just an archive of reviews, but also reporting on publishing and a calendar of Washington area literary events. It will still be published occasionally as a special section, focusing on such themes as children's books and summer reading."