Nora Ephron ’62 to head section at Huffington Post

Divorce has been a growing phenomenon among married couples in the United States. In order to cater to this rising trend, the Huffington Post will feature a news section specifically tailored to divorce—starting Nov. 2— with Nora Ephron ’62 to serve as the section’s chief editor, alongside senior editor Willow Bay.

Ephron’s work as an author, journalist, and director has also received acclaimed attention: she has been honored with Academy Award nominations for her work in “When Harry Met Sally,” “Sleepless in Seattle” and “Silkwood.”

The section appears partially to be a publicity stunt for Ephron, as it is scheduled to debut just one week before the release of her new book, “I Know Nothing,” on Nov. 9. The book has a chapter, “The D Word,” where Ephron reveals her real-life encounters with divorce.

Moriah Smith ’13 reflects on the effects of Ephron’s new column. “In our culture, we try to hide too many personal things—so I think it’s commendable to be open to talking about divorce. By bringing it up in a respectful manner, it has the potential to really help people.”

Known for her witty insight and biting sarcasm, Ephron has a history of addressing important everyday issues that are relatable to a wide audience with room for broad support. She often draws from personal experiences in her writing and has published various essays on feminist issues and pop culture. As a three- time divorcee herself, Ephron will have much to share in her new divorce column.

The family, as an institution, is not static. This is becoming more apparent in contemporary society with the various interpretations of the modern family. As the number of divorces in the United States continues to increase, a relatable source providing advice and support, such as the divorce column, will be in higher demand.

Professor of Sociology Rosanna Hertz supports a mainstream column on divorce. “A column on divorce is long overdue,” Hertz said. She believes Ephron is going to create much needed discussion about divorce and share relatable stories of support without changing the scope of divorce. “Nora Ephron is not going to advocate for or against divorce, nor is this column going to create more divorce,” she said.

Hertz’s colleague Professor Joe Swingle of the Sociology department agrees that family matters should be a topic of public discussion. He explained that the family is a fundamental institution in all societies, thus it has important implications for the well being of its members. “How to define families and marriages, what kind of support to give struggling families, what steps might be taken to improve the viability of marriages are issues that should be discussed publicly because they involve basic questions of what we value as a society and how best to allocate our collective resources,” Swingle said.

Students also point out that Ephron’s new column will help lessen the social stigma against divorce. Shira Bleicher ’14 said, “It will make divorce a less foreign idea and a more acceptable one. This divorce column will be reassurance that there is support out there.”

The Huffington Post’s expansion into creative and new topics, such as divorce, will cater to the ever-changing transformations of a 21st century society. Ephron’s divorce column is not a statement encouraging divorce, but rather an encouragement for people to seek help.

“I think her readership will be like other great women columnists—people in this situation,” Hertz said. “Her column will spill over into other issues of American families.”