This year’s May issue marks, for me, a full three years of working on CITY magazine. The May 2023 issue was a shared production between myself and Dave Andreatta, a sort of “passing of the torch” as he moved into a new role and I took the helm. In his outgoing editor’s letter for that issue, Andreatta wrote about his four years as editor — a challenging journey through WXXI’s acquisition of the magazine, a pandemic, a rebrand to “magazine” and the transition to monthly from weekly print:
“When the rebranded CITY Magazine launched in September 2020, it picked up where its weekly predecessor left off – holding a mirror to greater Rochester for an enlightening, entertaining, and honest reflection of life in our community. Each issue sought to blend an array of news and commentary with street-level coverage of the arts, music, food and drink, and culture, to galvanize people around shared interests and ignite important conversations. We did some excellent and impactful work.”
My goal, from day one, was to continue that excellent work.
In the three years since Andreatta wrote those words, I marvel at the many changes CITY — and WXXI, as its parent company — has navigated. The CITY team looks very different, including welcoming its first multimedia reporter and shifting to more digital content; WXXI welcomed a new CEO, Chris Hastings, for the first time in 28 years; CITY resurrected the Best Of Rochester awards and revamped the party into a true awards show experience; the current presidential administration cut CPB and NPR funding, creating an opportunity for more support from within our community; and WXXI is currently undergoing a reorganization to position the company — including CITY and The Little Theatre — as a trusted, lasting local and national media resource.
Zooming out, the opportunity to hold this position has been one of my proudest career milestones. Zooming in, it is a daily privilege and honor to tell the stories of the community I call home. Is it the job I dreamed of on the first day of J-school in 2011? Not quite. But like many preconceived ideas we have for our lives, sometimes things work out not how we project, but for the best.
Berto has a folder in his email titled “Why we do this,” and it’s where he saves nice notes and replies and shout-outs from social media. In early April, he, Patrick and I sat on a panel at the Henrietta Public Library, and our friend Jim asked each of us thoughtful questions about CITY. There was a small group of people there to listen and ask questions, and we walked away with a jolt of gratitude for the work we get to do and the people it matters to. If we could’ve saved that night in Berto’s folder, we would have.
I say this a lot in the office — local journalism, particularly arts and culture journalism, isn’t brain surgery. We aren’t literally saving lives. But I will tell you that sometimes, the work saves me. Us. All of us. It matters, especially in 2026, the same way a sunny, warm day matters after a winter of gray and cold; the way a baby’s laugh matters in the midst of grief; the way a kind word from a stranger matters when you are lonely. It matters because we need to know that even when things are going terribly wrong in the world around us, there are still some good stories.
So when life feels heavy or we’re tempted to focus on the negative, here’s a reminder from my best friend, for me and for you — what if it all works out?
Leah Stacy is the editor-in-chief of CITY Magazine and producer of Rochester Cocktail Revival. She loves to plan travel around dining and theater experiences. Find her reposting poetry and today’s egg @leahstacy.
