March 31 marks my 14-month anniversary at the top of this paper's masthead. It also marks—to the day—my nine-year anniversary of living in New York City. In 1995, I moved into a “cozy” one-bedroom in Little Italy with my then-girlfriend. I was excited to lead a civilized lifestyle—a direct contrast to the two years I'd just spent in Philadelphia, where I lived low and published an obnoxious zine that would lead directly to this opening editorial.
Shortly after moving here, I began writing for New York Press. Russ Smith, John Strausbaugh and Sam Sifton were my editors, and I learned much from each. Their lessons were sometimes painful, but always valuable, and I'm greatly indebted to them. That I am now directing this newspaper, offering opportunities and lessons to upstart writers who remind me of my younger self—unschooled, unformed, occasionally barbaric—still takes me by surprise.
This time last year, Russ Smith urged me to make New York Press my own. “Don't do anything you don't want to do,” he advised, and told me of his own early days at the top of the masthead. For more than two years, he didn't run regular film reviews—a clear violation of contemporary alt-weekly wisdom—because he refused to have an obligatory but insufficient film section. He waited until he had the right writer, then added it. “Tear it apart.”
It's taken more than a year to make this paper my own. In addition to the visual changes, there are significant shifts in structure. The mail, for instance, is now to be found after the classified section on page 110. The listings, easier to read and featuring even more previews, have been shimmied up a bit, while the columnists were pushed back. Page Two has expanded, and there are more items in the front of the book.
The Randall Rothenbergs can define “importance” however they wish, but I suspect they're 20 years past importance themselves. The alternative press—or at least the “post-alternative press,” as this paper has been described—is as vital and needed as ever. For everyone else, with this issue, it's a new day rising for New York Press. I welcome your comments at themail@nypress.com.
Credit for our newspaper's new logo and design goes to creative director Nick Bilton, whose dedication, patience and talent are astounding. He will be rewarded—if not in this life, then in the thereafter. Baby Jesus, I can say with certainty, loves him for all his hard work.
Jeff Koyen
Editor-in-Chief
