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Key people at New York Magazine.
New York Magazine publishes a biweekly print edition and maintains a robust digital platform, offering incisive coverage of urban culture, politics, and current events. Its editorial approach emphasizes in-depth reporting, critical analysis, and compelling visual narratives across diverse verticals, exploring metropolitan life. The publication consistently delivers sophisticated content reflective of its namesake city's dynamic character.
The magazine was founded in April 1968 by editor Clay Felker and graphic designer Milton Glaser. They recognized a void for a publication intensely focused on New York City's distinctive pulse, aiming for a more spirited voice than existing media. Felker's editorial vision, paired with Glaser's design expertise, pioneered a new era of urban journalism that captured the essence of the city.
New York Magazine serves a discerning readership interested in sophisticated cultural commentary, political analysis, and contemporary lifestyle coverage. Its mission is to encapsulate the vibrant spirit of its namesake city, evolving with its dynamics and continually shaping urban discourse for an engaged metropolitan audience. It remains a definitive voice on the complexities of modern urban living.
Key people at New York Magazine.
# New York Magazine: A Media Company, Not an Investment Firm
New York Magazine is a media and publishing company, not an investment firm. It's a magazine and digital media platform that covers news, culture, entertainment, lifestyle, and fashion centered on New York City.
New York Magazine is a weekly (now biweekly) publication that reaches approximately 1.6 million readers per week[3] and operates five digital spinoff websites with a combined 50 million monthly readers[1]. The magazine is published by New York Media Holdings, LLC[3].
The publication serves readers interested in New York City culture, politics, entertainment, and lifestyle. Its digital properties include Intelligencer (news and politics), The Cut (fashion and women's interests), Vulture (pop culture), Grub Street (food), and Strategist (buying advice)[1]. Rather than pursuing venture capital or startup investment, New York Magazine operates as a traditional media business focused on editorial content and audience engagement.
New York Magazine was founded in April 1968 by Clay Felker and Milton Glaser[3]. The magazine's origins trace back to a Sunday supplement called "New York" that appeared in the New York Herald Tribune newspaper, where Felker served as editor and Glaser as art director[1]. When the Herald Tribune ceased publication in the late 1960s, Felker and Glaser purchased the "New York" name from the Tribune's owners and launched the independent magazine[1].
Glaser, a Jewish designer from the Bronx with interests in working-class and left-wing politics, paired with Felker, a Midwesterner fascinated by New York's wealthy elite[1]. This combination of perspectives shaped the magazine's distinctive voice. Glaser served as president and design director until 1977[2], while the publication quickly became a model for city magazines nationwide[2].
New York Magazine emerged during a transformative period for American journalism. As traditional newspapers like the Herald Tribune folded in the 1960s, the magazine filled a gap by offering a weekly publication dedicated entirely to urban culture and lifestyle—a format that had no precedent[1]. The magazine's success spawned numerous imitators, establishing the "city magazine" as a distinct publishing category[2].
In the digital era, New York Magazine's early embrace of online publishing and its expansion into specialized vertical websites positioned it to survive industry-wide print decline. While many "venerable magazines have gone to the Great Newsstand in the Sky," New York Magazine remains in print and continues to expand its digital reach[1].
New York Magazine represents a rare success story in legacy media—a publication founded over 55 years ago that has adapted to digital transformation while maintaining editorial relevance. Its network of specialized websites demonstrates how traditional media brands can extend their reach by creating focused digital properties that serve specific audience interests.
The magazine's continued viability depends on sustaining both its print readership and its substantial digital audience across multiple platforms. As media consumption continues fragmenting, New York Magazine's strength lies in its deep connection to New York City culture and its ability to serve both general interest and niche audiences through its portfolio of publications.
