Phoenix New Times

Phoenix New Times
Name	Phoenix New Times
Type	Alternative weekly
Format	Tabloid
Founded	1970
Founder	* R. J. 'Bob' Lee * Michael L. Lacey * Jim Larkin
Owner	Village Voice Media (historical), New Times Media (historical), Voice Media Group (current)
Publisher	Phoenix
Language	English
Headquarters	Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix New Times The Phoenix New Times is an alternative weekly newspaper founded in 1970 in Phoenix, Arizona, known for investigative reporting, arts coverage, and local criticism. The paper operates within a network of alternative weeklies associated with publishers such as New Times Media and Village Voice Media, and it has influenced civic debates in Maricopa County, Arizona, Greater Phoenix, and the southwestern United States. Its editorial focus has intersected with figures and institutions including Jan Brewer, Joe Arpaio, Kyrsten Sinema, Sandra Day O'Connor, and cultural venues such as the Phoenix Art Museum and Biltmore Fashion Park.

History

The paper was founded during a period of expansion for alternative weeklies alongside outlets like the Village Voice, LA Weekly, The Stranger and The Riverfront Times, emerging from the countercultural milieu that produced publications such as Rolling Stone, Mad Magazine, and Omaha Reader. Early editors and founders had prior associations with publications in Tucson, Arizona and with activist networks connected to events like the Vietnam War protests and the Watergate scandal. In the 1980s and 1990s the paper became part of a consolidation that involved New Times Media and later a merger with Village Voice Media, paralleling corporate moves seen in mergers of Gannett and Tribune Company in other markets. Its newsroom produced reporters who later worked at outlets including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Mother Jones, and ProPublica.

Content and Coverage

The publication covers local politics, investigative journalism, entertainment listings, restaurant criticism, and arts features, situating stories about figures like Phil Gordon, Doug Ducey, Ruth McGregor, and institutions such as the Arizona State Legislature, Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Arizona State University, and the Heard Museum. Its arts coverage engages with performers and venues including Alice Cooper, Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Opera, First Fridays Art Walk, and festivals like McDowell Mountain Music Festival. Food and nightlife columns review establishments in neighborhoods such as Roosevelt Row, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Mesa, intersecting with restaurateurs tied to events like Arizona Restaurant Week and chefs who have appeared on Iron Chef and Top Chef. The paper’s investigative pieces have scrutinized policies associated with Joe Arpaio, law enforcement practices connected to Sheriff’s Office operations, and municipal decisions influenced by figures like Kiernan McCarthy and developers linked to projects near Papago Park and Camelback Mountain.

Ownership and Management

Ownership history includes independent founders, acquisition by New Times Media, and subsequent configurations under Village Voice Media and later Voice Media Group. Key management figures have included founders and executives who interacted with media executives from companies such as A.H. Belo Corporation, McClatchy Company, and private equity groups active in media consolidation. Editors and publishers recruited talent from outlets like Spin (magazine), Entertainment Weekly, Phoenix Gazette, and national chains such as Gannett Company, reflecting broader trends connecting alternative weeklies to corporate media holdings.

Distribution and Circulation

Distributed freely in print as a tabloid across street boxes, bars, cafes, and cultural institutions in Phoenix, Arizona and surrounding municipalities like Glendale, Arizona, Chandler, Arizona, and Peoria, Arizona, the paper also maintains an online presence rivaling local digital news platforms such as azcentral.com and blogs like Cronkite News. Circulation metrics have been reported alongside peers like LA Weekly and Miami New Times, and the paper has adapted distribution strategies in response to shifts driven by platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Google News, and digital subscription models pioneered by outlets like The New York Times Company. Its audience spans students at Arizona State University, patrons of venues like the Orpheum Theatre (Phoenix), and readers interested in civic affairs in Maricopa County.

Controversies and Legal Issues

The paper has been involved in high-profile legal battles and controversies, including disputes over access to public records, confrontations with officials such as Joe Arpaio and administrations of governors like Jan Brewer, and litigation concerning reporting methods and unpublished materials. Legal matters have intersected with laws and institutions like Arizona Revised Statutes, state trial courts in Maricopa County Superior Court, and federal courts including filings invoking the First Amendment and precedents shaped by cases in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Coverage and editorial decisions have occasionally prompted responses from advocacy organizations such as ACLU affiliates, civil liberties litigators, and media watchdogs that cite standards used by the Society of Professional Journalists and press freedom entities connected to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

Awards and Recognition

Reporters and photographers have received awards from organizations like the Investigative Reporters and Editors, the Society of Professional Journalists, the James Beard Foundation for food criticism, and regional press associations comparable to the Arizona Press Club. Individual journalists from the newsroom have earned fellowships and honors tied to institutions such as Pulitzer Prize finalists, grants from the Knight Foundation, and recognition from cultural bodies like the Arizona Humanities council. The paper’s pieces have been reprinted or cited by national publications including The New Yorker, Time (magazine), and Newsweek.

Category:Newspapers published in Arizona