New York Times Hires Bono

The New York Times opinion/editorial section will feature a new contributor next year: the socially-minded rock star Bono, who will submit columns on a wide array of topics for free – or "pro Bono" as Radar cheekily puts it.

Andrew Rosenthal, editor of The Times' op-ed section, told Columbia Journalism School students on Wednesday night that the U2 singer will submit six to ten columns in the coming year to address his usual concerns and a certain blue-eyed crooner from radio's golden era:

[T]he Irish millionaire will muse on Africa, poverty, and, importantly, the music of Frank Sinatra. And while Bono may seem an odd choice for such a contract, Rosenthal did mention his current obsession with learning the guitar, and even shuffled freshly downloaded riff tablature together with his lecture notes. And though Rosenthal didn't announce any other celeb contributors, he did allude to re-recruiting the pen of Queen guitarist Brian May, who just earned his doctorate in astrophysics, and expressed admiration for previous opinion writers Bruce Springsteen and Larry David.

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Photo of Bono and Tony Blair at Davos Summit 2007 courtesy of the World Economic Forum