Frank Foer steps down as New Republic editor

Frank Foer, who served as the New Republic's editor for nearly five years, will step down and return to writing for the magazine as editor-at-large.

Executive Editor Richard Just moves up to the editor's desk.

The Daily Beast's Howard Kurtz broke the news on Twitter. Marty Peretz, the magazine's longtime owner (except for a brief period where he sold his shares), confirmed the changes to The Cutline.

"He figured out that he wants to be a writer more than an editor," Peretz said by phone. "So he's going to be writer."

Peretz described Foer as "a terrific editor."

"I don't think I got along better with anybody except, perhaps, Michael Kinsley," he said. "And it wasn't better, it was about the same. Frank is an unusual human being. He's so gifted and so sweet. Giftedness and sweetness rarely go together."

Foer was named editor in February 2006, succeeding Peter Beinart. During his tenure, Foer oversaw design changes and moved the magazine to a biweekly schedule. He also helped shift the contrarian, left-of-center magazine away from the staunch pro-war editorial stance it adopted before the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

The New Republic — once home to fabulist Stephen Glass — has never been short on controversy over the years.

In 2007, Foer dealt with months of questions over the accuracy of anonymous pieces written by a soldier in Iraq. The magazine later retracted the articles.

Foer is also the author of a book about globalization, "How Soccer Explains the World." He's now working on a book that is expected to be a narrative history of the Progressive era, according a source familiar with the situation.

He did not respond to requests for comment.

UPDATE: Foer and Just discuss the changes over at TNR.com.