Philadelphia City Paper

{{Infobox newspaper

| name = Philadelphia City Paper

| image =

| caption = The November 22, 2007 front page of the
Philadelphia City Paper

| type = Alternative weekly

| publication date = Thursdays

| format = Tabloid

| foundation = {{start date and age|1981|11}}

| ceased publication = {{end date and age|2015|10}}

| price =

| owners = Metro

| publisher = Jennifer Clark

| editor = Lillian Swanson

| language =

| circulation = 70,000

| headquarters = 30 S. 15th St., 14th floor
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
U.S.

| ISSN = 0733-6349

| website = [http://www.citypaper.net/ citypaper.net]

}}

Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The independently owned paper was free and published every Thursday in print and daily online at citypaper.net. Staff reporters focused on labor issues, politics, education and poverty. Critics reviewed the city's arts, entertainment, literary and restaurant scene. Listings of concerts, art exhibits, dance performances and other events were carried in the paper and in a comprehensive online events calendar.

The publication was established in November 1981 as a spinoff of the now-defunct WXPN Express newsletter. Philadelphia City Paper distributed 70,000 copies in more than 2,000 locations throughout Philadelphia, its suburbs and South Jersey. Its more than 2,000 orange-colored boxes and wire racks were found in Center City Philadelphia in cafes, small businesses and on many university campuses.

Each year, City Paper published a City Guide for college students and new residents.

Its monthly readership was 521,000, which was verified by Scarborough Research.

Founder Bruce Schimmel{{cite web|url=http://schimmel.com/|title=Bruce Schimmel|access-date=1 March 2016}} sold the paper to the Rock family (Milton L. Rock and his son Robert H. Rock) in 1996.{{cite web|last=Fagone |first=Jason |url=http://www.phillymag.com/articles/death-and-life-philadelphia-alt-weekly/ |title=The Death (and Life) of the Philadelphia Weekly and Philadelphia City Paper | Philadelphia Magazine |website=Phillymag.com |date=2012-05-24 |access-date=2016-01-22}} In 2014, Metro acquired the City Paper from the Rock family.{{cite web|last=Mathis |first=Joel |url=http://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/08/13/metro-buys-city-paper-layoffs-ensue/ |title=Metro Buys City Paper; Layoffs Ensue | News | Philadelphia Magazine |website=Phillymag.com |date=2014-08-13 |access-date=2016-01-22}} In 2015, the City Paper was sold to Broad Street Media, owner of Philadelphia Weekly. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.bsmphilly.com/2015/sep/30/broad-street-media-acquires-rights-philadelphia-ci/|title=Broad Street Media acquires rights to Philadelphia City Paper|author=Northeast Times Staff|date=30 September 2015|access-date=29 February 2016}}{{cite web|author=Brian Hickey |url=http://www.phillyvoice.com/rip-philadelphia-city-paper-1981-2015/ |title=The alt-weekly printed its final edition today. |website=PhillyVoice.com |date=2015-10-08 |access-date=2016-01-22}}

Print edition

City Paper was broken into a variety of different sections.

Naked City: The paper's news section regularly featured A Million Stories, an offbeat analysis of current events in the city, the Bell Curve, the city's "quality-o-life-o-meter".

Cover Story: Typically a long-form feature, news, or service package, taking on various writing forms such as narrative, question-and-answer, and explanatory. The paper's front page art or design was usually centered on the cover story's content.

Arts & Entertainment: Reviews and short show previews of both local and national talent. The section covered a broad swath of genres, including music, photography, performing arts, books and visual arts.

Movies: Reviews and picks of local, independent and mass-produced films. Lead reviews were usually written by Sam Adams, Shaun Brady, or Drew Lazor. The section also included movie shorts (200-word graded reviews) and local repertory film listings.

Events: A calendar of noteworthy events in the city, highlighting everything from clothing boutiques and book signings to festivals and music performances with quick, witty previews.

Food & Drink: Reviews and features centered on local restaurants, cafes and bars, and also chronicles the goings-on of Philadelphia's restaurant community, such as openings and closings. Reviews were mostly handled by critic Adam Erace.

Online edition

City Paper{{'}}s website featured the digital version of the print edition, along with links to blogs and social networking pages.

=Blogs=

The Naked City: The news blog, covering anything from breaking news to quirky stories from the community.

Meal Ticket: The paper's food and drink blog.

Shop Savvy: Brenna Adams' expertise on shopping on a budget.

Data Points: A look at Philly's tech universe.

Let's Get It On: Rachel Kramer Bussel on sex of all stripes.

Philly: Hyper Local: This blog focuses on the local happenings with culture, food, people and more in Philly's neighborhoods.

Get Lit: Lynn Rosen reads between the lines for insights on the local book scene.

=Social networking=

City Paper had regularly updated profiles on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

=Contests=

Contests: The contest page offered viewers opportunities to win concert, theatre, movie tickets and more.

Masthead

Associate Publisher

Jennifer Clark

Editor in Chief

Lillian Swanson

Senior Editor / Music Editor

Patrick Rapa

Arts & Culture Editor

Mikala Jamison

Senior Staff Writer

Emily Guendelsberger

Staff Writer

Jerry Iannelli

Copy Chief

Carolyn Wyman

Production Director

Dennis Crowley

Senior Designer & Social Media Director

Jenni Betz

U.S. Circulation Director

Joseph Lauletta

Account Managers

Sharon MacWilliams, Susanna Simon, Stephan Sitzai

Classified Advertising Sales

Jennifer Fisher

Founder & Editor Emeritus

Bruce Schimmel

Awards

=2015=

In 2015, City Paper won 11 Keystone Press Awards, awarded by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.

First Place: Investigative Reporting

:Ryan Briggs

First Place: Series

:Emily Guendelsberger

First Place: Feature Story

:Natalie Pompilio

First Place: News Feature Story

:Emily Guendelsberger

First Place: News Beat Reporting

:Daniel Denvir

First Place: Feature Beat Reporting

:Mikala Jamison

First Place: Front Page Design

:Brenna Adams, Jenni Betz

Second Place: Personality Profile

:Mikala Jamison

Second Place: News Photo

:Maria Pouchnikova

Second Place: Video Story

:Daniel Denvir, Emily Guendelsberger

Honorable Mention: Ongoing News Coverage

:Daniel Denvir

=2014=

In 2014, City Paper won 15 Keystone Press Awards, awarded by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.

First Place: Investigative Reporting

:Ryan Briggs

First Place: News Series

:Daniel Denvir

First Place: Feature Beat Reporting

:Emily Guendelsberger

First Place: Photo Story

:Neal Santos

First Place: Sports Photo

:Neal Santos

First Place: Front Page Design

:Reseca Peskin

First Place: Page Design

:Reseca Peskin

First Place: General News

:Daniel Denvir

First Place:Ongoing News Coverage

:Daniel Denvir & Samantha Melamed

First Place: Featured Story

:Ryan Briggs

First Place: Graphic/Photo Illustration

:Evan M. Lopez, Emily Guendelsberger & Jess Bergman

First Place: News Beat Reporting

:Samantha Melamed

Second Place: Feature Beat Reporting

:Adam Erace

Second Place: Business or Consumer Story

:Samantha Melamed

Honorable Mention: Column

:Daniel Denvir

Honorable Mention: Special Project

:Pat Rapa

=2013=

In 2013, City Paper won 8 Keystone Press Awards, awarded by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.

Also in 2013, City Paper won one Association of Alternative Newsweeklies awards.

=2012=

In 2012, City Paper won six Keystone Press Awards, awarded by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.{{Cite web|url=https://panewsmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/Awards/Keystone_Awards_Professional/Past_Winners/2012-professional-keystone-winners.pdf|title=2012 Professional Keystone Press Award Winners Division V|website=Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417195850/https://panewsmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/Awards/Keystone_Awards_Professional/Past_Winners/2012-professional-keystone-winners.pdf|archive-date=2020-04-17|access-date=2020-04-17}}

=2011=

In 2011, City Paper won two Association of Alternative Newsweeklies awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.altweeklies.com/aan/2011-altweekly-awards-winners-announced/Article?oid=4549589 |title=2011 AltWeekly Awards Winners Announced | Honors & Achievements |website=AltWeeklies.com |date=2011-07-22 |access-date=2016-01-22}}

=2010=

In 2010, City Paper won six Newspaper of the Year (NOY) awards, including the prestigious newspaper of the year honor.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}

Also in 2010, City Paper won six Keystone Press Awards, awarded by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}

=2009=

In 2009, City Paper won three Newspaper of the Year (NOY) awards.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}

First Place (tie): General and Departmental News Coverage
First Place: Advertising Excellence
Second Place: Layout & Design

References

=Further reading=

{{cite web

| last = Jason Fagone | title = The Death (and Life) of the Philadelphia Weekly and Philadelphia City Paper

| work = Philadelphia Magazine

| access-date = 2014-08-22

| url = http://www.phillymag.com/articles/death-and-life-philadelphia-alt-weekly/

}}

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20050204083756/http://www.citypaper.net/ The Philadelphia City paper]

Category:Alternative weekly newspapers published in the United States

Category:Defunct newspapers of Philadelphia

Category:Newspapers established in 1981

Category:1981 establishments in Pennsylvania