Petra Mayer
Mayer at the NPR Headquarters in 2019
Born(1974-11-30)November 30, 1974
Washington, D.C., U.S.
DiedNovember 13, 2021(2021-11-13) (aged 46)
Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
Alma materAmherst College (BA)
Columbia University (MA)
Occupations
  • Journalist
  • editor
Years active1997–2021

Petra Mayer (November 30, 1974 – November 13, 2021) was an American book review editor and journalist. She was a book editor at NPR, working in the Culture section, and was known for her coverage of the San Diego Comic-Con and organizing an interactive book recommendation guide called Book Concierge.[1]

Life and career

Mayer was born on November 30, 1974, in Washington, D.C., where she grew up.[2] She earned her bachelor's degree in history at Amherst College in 1996. According to an interview with her mother, Elke Mayer, it was while studying there that she decided to begin a career in radio.[3] While she was still in college, Mayer joined NPR as an engineering assistant intern.[4]

In 1997, Mayer moved to Boston, Massachusetts, to work as a news writer at the public radio station WBUR.[5] In 1998, she earned her master's degree in journalism at Columbia University,[6][7] and was hired to work as an intern for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, in Prague. Mayer worked there for two years as an archivist and audio editor.[4]

Mayer returned to Washington, D.C. in 2000 and joined NPR.[4] She worked in several positions within NPR, including as production assistant of Weekend Edition Saturday, and associate producer and director of All Things Considered. In 2012, Mayer joined the Culture section of NPR, where she worked as one of its two books editors.[3][8] In 2020, Mayer was appointed the editor of NPR's video gaming column.[4]

Death

Mayer died on November 13, 2021, at the Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland,[9] from a pulmonary embolism. She was 46 years old.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Associated Press (November 14, 2021). "National Public Radio books editor Petra Mayer dies at 46". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021 – via archive.today.
  2. ↑ Langer, Emily (November 16, 2021). "Petra Mayer, NPR books editor who championed fantasy and romance fiction, dies at 46". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Vigdor, Neil (November 14, 2021). "Petra Mayer, Books Editor for NPR and 'Resident Nerd,' Dies at 46". The New York Times. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Trakhtenberg, Izolda (July 15, 2020). "NPR Books Editor, Petra Mayer". Podbean (Podcast). Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Bowman, Emma (November 13, 2021). "NPR books editor Petra Mayer has died". NPR. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  6. ↑ Yasharoff, Hannah (November 14, 2021). "NPR books editor Petra Mayer dies 'suddenly' at age 46: 'She was the best of us'". USA Today. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  7. ↑ "1998 Master's Projects". Columbia University Libraries. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021 – via Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ SB Sarah (August 7, 2015). "153. Sci Fi, Fantasy, Romance, and Cats: An Interview with Petra Mayer, NPR Books Editor". Smart Bitches Trashy Books. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  9. ↑ Maruf, Ramishah (November 14, 2021). "NPR books editor Petra Mayer dies at 46". CNN. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
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