The cover of this newspaper each week defines us as “Greater
Rochester’s alternative newsweekly.” The phrase has an important meaning,
identifying City as a publication
that practices a specific type of journalism: “alternative.”
           It’s not
simply that we are one of many reading alternatives to the Democrat and Chronicle. Alternative newspapers, which have their
roots in the ’60s and early ’70s, are different in subject matter and in
editorial approach, to mainstream journalism.
           Among the
differences: our general political orientation is obvious. For nearly all
alternative newspapers — more than 100 in the United States and Canada —
that orientation is strongly liberal.
           That
doesn’t mean we are any politician’s or political party’s mouthpiece. In City’s 32-year history, we’ve gotten as
many calls from angry liberal political leaders as from conservatives. Like any
good newspaper, we are committed to truth and fairness in journalism. And we
are committed to seeking out viewpoints that other media dismiss. From the
beginning, we were part of a movement questioning “the Establishment,” and we continue
to do that.
           Since their
founding, alternatives have recognized the importance of arts and entertainment
in our communities, alternative and mainstream. The nation’s alternatives were
treating rock music seriously long before most dailies decided to, for example.
Many of us feature artists on our covers more often than athletes.
           Our mission
includes serious analysis of important local issues, which can’t be done in
short articles. It requires space, and
we continue to provide it. We’re also committed to excellence in writing, and
some of the nation’s best journalism is found on the pages of alternative
newsweeklies.
You can get a good
sense of the nature and influence of alternatives from the list of the 123
members of our national trade association, the Association of Alternative
Newsweeklies. They range from major-city alternatives — the Village Voice in New York, the Chicago Reader, City Paper in
Washington, the Boston Phoenix, the Mirror and Hour Magazine in Montreal, Toronto’s Now, San Francisco’s Bay
Guardian and SF Weekly, the Phoenix New Times, and LA Weekly — to alternatives in
Jackson, Mississippi; Missoula, Montana; Wausau, Wisconsin; Boise, Idaho; Maui
in Hawaii; and Burlington, Vermont. (In addition to City, AAN papers in New York State are Buffalo’s Artvoice, Albany’s Metroland, the Ithaca Times,
and New Times in Syracuse.)
           The
association itself provides invaluable help to its members — and that means a
better newspaper for you as a reader. AAN’s three annual conventions and a weekend
writing workshop at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism are
intense, working events, offering training in every aspect of alternative
journalism.
           AAN funds
and sponsors a summer-long Academy for Alternative Journalism at Medill and
Diversity Internships at AAN papers, both designed to train minority
journalists and interest them in alternative journalism.
           City was an early member of AAN.
Co-publisher Bill Towler has been a board member for eight years and recently
completed a term as AAN president; managing editor Chad Oliveiri serves on the
AAN editorial committee.
Being “alternative” doesn’t marginalize us. While many daily newspapers have turned to short
stories and a weakened editorial page, the continued success of alternative
newspapers is proof that many Americans want substance in their media.
Particularly in this presidential-election year, alternatives will be playing a
significant role in informing and motivating the public.
           As for our
progressive editorial stance: Alt-weeklies’ readers have a variety of political
viewpoints. Many conservatives read us because they want to be exposed to
diverse views. Some read us for our arts and entertainment articles. Some read
us for our non-political news content. Some probably read us just to get an
adrenalin rush.
           You get a
sense of the variety of our readership by reading one of the most important
parts of this newspaper, our Mail column. There, readers argue with us, argue
with one another, and further the public dialogue on issues large and small.
           In a very
real sense, City readers form an
important, unique community. Next week, we’ll tell you a little about that
community.
And an invitation: Representative
Louise Slaughter will hold a community discussion on the effects of media
consolidation on Monday, March 8, from 7 to 9 p.m., at St. John Fisher College.
On the program: Slaughter, FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, WXXI’s Norm
Silverstein, Richard Greene of WLVL radio in Niagara County, and City publisher Mary Anna Towler. We hope
you’ll join us.
This article appears in Feb 18-24, 2004.
