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http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com
Bigwigs and elitist pundits use the phrase "inside the beltway" to describe not only the geographic borders surrounding Washington DC, but also the intellectual swamp known as
national politics. But to editors and readers of Washington City Paper, that same patch of turf represents something entirely different: the place they call home. This free weekly
tabloid generally sidesteps the policy tantrums and soap opera carnage of Capitol Hill and The White House, focusing instead on local politics, culture, entertainment,
personalities and municipal infrastructure. The District, after all, is a place on the map with its own distinct flavor and foibles. The publication boasts some 180,000
readers.
Content/Contacts
City Paper skips celebrity worship and service journalism found in other DC-centric pubs (e.g., Washingtonian) and focuses instead on edgy profiles, investigative pieces, "Talk
of the Town" bits and stories about local institutions. The publication also takes pride in its exhaustive chronicling of local entertainment choices, including movies, music,
theater and arts exhibits/events. Coverage extends not just to mainstream gigs, but also quirky clubs, esoteric foreign films and intimate art gatherings. Freelance contributors
write roughly one third of features and reviews, ensuring local flavor. Contacts are as follows:
Howard Witt, editor-in-chief (gatekeeper for news): [email protected]
Leonard Roberge, arts editor: [email protected]
Caroline Schweiter, managing editor (handles book/author reviews): [email protected]
Pitch Tips
Wednesday is deadline day and the paper hits newsstands every Thursday. As such, the best days to phone editors are Thursdays and Fridays.
Take note: City Paper does not run op-eds, nor does it cover news conferences, demonstrations or service journalism pieces, a la "12 great places to get espresso after
midnight." PR pitches that highlight eclectic entertainment options such as concerts, shows, exhibits and book signings (particularly those off-the-beaten path) stand the best
chance of getting noticed.
Lead-time for features is generally 2-3 months, while shorter news items are developed a couple weeks out. Entertainment listings should be submitted at least one week in
advance. City Paper's tone is iconoclastic, not gushy. Given its underground slant, it is willfully irreverent. For more helpful tips, check out the paper's online "Guide to
Freelancing."
Comments
Editor-in-Chief Howard Witt says 98% of news leads sent by PR types end up in the garbage, mainly because they pertain to matters of national politics. "Stuff that's going on
with Congress is not interesting to us -- not because we're Philistines but because 10,000 other publications out there cover the same news," he says.
Think locally. Regular beats here include city council, the DC public school system and housing. If the paper attacks a story that's receiving national coverage, it's always
with a unique, DC-oriented angle. For example, when news broke about the disappearance of congressional intern Chandra Levy (which led to national media speculation about her
involvement with a California congressman), City Paper ran a story about all of the other people in DC who have disappeared in recent months. "We discovered that DC police don't
even keep track of missing persons," says Witt. "You almost have to be a celebrity in this town to get the attention of police."
In the Pipeline
As a weekly pub covering the most current scuttlebutt around town, City Paper eschews themed issues and seasonal stories. And since articles with the longest development times
tend to be investigative pieces, Witt declines to share details about stories in the works. Suffice it to say some features end up being seasonal, however unintentionally. With
the summer months came a recent expose about the city's rat problem (now raging in full force with the onset of picnic season), and a gossipy sports bit about Attorney General
John Ashcroft's penchant for pick-up basketball in local neighborhoods on Capitol Hill.