444 Madison Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10022; ph: 212/508-0700
Editor's Note: It's been our general impression that the New York media outlets are the hardest to gain access to (for two reasons: the hectic newsgathering environment in which these pros operate and the occasional prima-donna attitude). But New York Magazine editors are among the Big Apple's most accommodating. Close to half a million people read this publication every week and it's evolved from its original purpose of reporting about - and interpreting - trends in the New York area to analyzing issues, like AIDS, affecting society at large. Its content comes with a bite, so expect your pitch to be equally saucy!
| Sections | Editors | Days to Contact/Days to Avoid | Methods | Comments |
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News/Columns Anything goes and this magazine rests its reputation on its brassy, irreverent style. It's looking for news with a wide span of spins: could be about politicians or politics or quality-of-life issues. Content fashioned for this publication is somewhat hodgepodge and across-the-board: the sporadic column that is as sarcastic as it is scintillating; content that's Wall Street-focused; scoops that are celebrity-watch driven; and news tinged with trends- and lifestyle-flavored snippets. |
Contributing Editor, Craig Horowitz; Fax: 212/583-7516 | Avoid Wednesdays and Thursdays since the magazine's various sections close on either of those two days. It's put to bed late on Thursday. | Horowitz doesn't have any preference over snail mail or faxes, but he definitely discourages phone calls. Also, Horowitz cautions that for only a "very brief" period of time was he the contributing business editor, but PR reps are still sending him all business-related news. He does, however, write occasional pieces with a business theme. | "The most important factor is to be familiar with the magazine," says Horowitz. (We hear this so much it's almost becoming the Media Insight mantra!) "Ninety percent of what we get is completely off the mark." |
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Features It's likely if a story gets legs in the mainstream media, New York magazine might follow the crowd, but its reporting/editing will still produce stories with that edge. Editors use the morning hours to read major publications like The Wall Street Journal and the New York Daily News to find out what's surfaced and what they should jump on. Its http://www. newyorkmag.com site mirrors its print publication, but is still evolving. |
Features Editor, Maer Roshan; Fax: 212/583-7516 | Adhere to the schedule mentioned above. | Roshan prefers faxes with a one-week lead time, but he'll accept last-minute news if it's a need-to-know pitch or idea. Editors at New York Magazine rely heavily on freelancers and contributing editors. You may have to cultivate relationships with these columnists since they usually decide what they write about. | "It shocks me the amount of press releases and pitches we get that are so wrong for our magazine," Roshan says. You'll have a much better shot if you do some investigative work to uncover what the magazine's covered, and if you deliver something in writing that's brief and has bulleted points. |
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Editorial Contacts At New York Magazine Main Number - 212/508-0700 |
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Editor-in-Chief Caroline Miller 212/508-0700 Managing Editor Executive Editor Senior Editors Features Editors Culinary Editor Consumer Products Editor |
Contributing Editors Health, Susan Brenna, 212/508-0642 Classical Music, Peter G. Davis, write only Pop Music, Ethan Smith, 212/508-0529 Film, David Denby, 212/508-0821 Online, Simon Dumenco, 212/508-0894 Food, Gael Greene, write only Television, John Leonard, 212/508-0524 Entertainment, Barbara Lippert, 212/508-0525 Book Reviews, Luc Sante, write only Theater, John Simon, 212/508-0788 Art, Mark Stevens, 212/508-0770 Dance, Tobi Tobias, write only Politics, Michael Tomasky, 212/508-0799 Contributing Editors, General |