How a brash city magazine became a digital powerhouse of national culture
In short: Born in 1968 as a scrappy, voice-driven competitor to The New Yorker, New York magazine pioneered New Journalism. Over decades, it evolved from a local print supplement into a sprawling digital enterprise, defining the modern media landscape through investigative reporting, service journalism, and a distinct, knowing urban sensibility.
Founded by Clay Felker and Milton Glaser, New York magazine emerged from the ashes of the New York Herald Tribune’s Sunday supplement. Its inaugural 1968 issue set a tone that was intentionally brasher and more connected to city life than its established rivals. Early contributors like Tom Wolfe, Gloria Steinem, and Jimmy Breslin helped define a voice that blended high-culture critique with a gritty, status-obsessed interest in the city's social fabric. This ethos was perfectly captured in Wolfe’s 1970 piece, 'Radical Chic', which examined the collision of elite status and political activism.
The magazine’s history is marked by frequent ownership changes and editorial shifts. Rupert Murdoch’s 1976 hostile takeover forced out the founders, leading to a period of newsmagazine-style coverage and the integration of the listings magazine Cue. Later, under Bruce Wasserstein’s ownership starting in 2003, the magazine underwent a significant relaunch led by Adam Moss. This era emphasized service journalism, arts criticism, and the creation of specialized digital verticals like Vulture, The Cut, and Grub Street, which allowed the brand to reach a national audience.
By the 2010s, the publication had successfully transitioned into a digital-first enterprise. The magazine’s influence expanded through viral features, such as the 'Nepo Baby' package and investigative work that led to real-world legal consequences, including the conviction of Larry Ray and the E. Jean Carroll case against Donald Trump. Following its 2019 acquisition by Vox Media and a 2026 sale to James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems, the brand continues to leverage its intellectual property across podcasts, television, and newsletters, maintaining its status as a premier source for cultural and political commentary.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: New York (magazine)
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