Washington City Paper

The Washington City Paper was started in 1981 by Russ Smith and Alan Hirsch, the owners of the Baltimore City Paper.{{cite news |title=City Talk: The key players of Washington's influential and controversial weekly paper look back on its legacy |first=Stephen |last=Lowman|newspaper=Washington Post |date=August 9, 2009 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/31/AR2009073102016.html |access-date=October 19, 2012}} For its first year it was called 1981: Washington's Alternative Newspaper. The name was changed to City Paper in January 1982 and in December 1982 Smith and Hirsch sold 80% of it to Chicago Reader, Inc. In 1988, Chicago Reader, Inc. acquired the remaining 20% interest. In July 2007 both the Washington City Paper and the Chicago Reader were sold to the Tampa-based Creative Loafing chain. In 2012, Creative Loafing Atlanta and the Washington City Paper were sold to SouthComm Communications.{{cite web|last=Celeste |first=Eric |url=https://creativeloafing.com/content-216081-nashville-based-media-company-southcomm-acquires-creative-loafing |title=Nashville-based media company SouthComm acquires Creative Loafing Atlanta and Washington City Paper |publisher=Clatl.com |date=2012-07-03 |access-date=2014-04-13}}

Amy Austin, the longtime general manager, was promoted to publisher in 2003. Michael Schaffer was named editor in April, 2010, two months after Erik Wemple resigned to run the new local startup TBD.{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2010/04/27/michael-schaffer-is-new-editor-of-washington-city-paper/|title=Michael Schaffer is New Editor of Washington City Paper|last=Shott|first=Chris|date=2010-04-27|website=Washington City Paper|access-date=2014-04-13}}

On December 21, 2017, it was announced that D.C.-area venture capitalist and philanthropist Mark Ein would buy the City Paper.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/columns/article/20986837/long-live-city-paper|title=Long Live City Paper|last=Mills|first=Alexa|date=21 December 2017|work=Washington City Paper|access-date=2018-01-07|language=en}} He became the first D.C.-based owner in the paper's history.{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2017/12/22/573046486/washington-city-paper-will-continue-to-offer-local-news-with-new-owner|title='Washington City Paper' Will Continue To Offer Local News With New Owner|last=Shapiro|first=Ari|date=22 December 2017|work=NPR.org|access-date=2018-01-07|language=en}} Ein announced the creation of two groups to ensure the paper's long-term success: "Alumni Group" and "Friends of Washington City Paper."{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2017/12/21/mark-ein-buys-washington-city-paper/|title=Mark Ein Buys Washington City Paper|last=Beaujon|first=Andrew|date=2017-12-21|work=Washingtonian|access-date=2018-01-07|language=en-US}}

In 2011, Daniel Snyder, the owner of the Washington Redskins, filed a lawsuit{{Cite web|url=https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/467848/to-our-readers/|title = To Our Readers|date = 2 February 2011}} against the City Paper for The Cranky Redskins Fan's Guide to Dan Snyder, a November 19, 2010 cover story that portrayed him in a negative light.

{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/40063/the-cranky-redskins-fans-guide-to-dan-snyder/|title=The Cranky Redskins Fan's Guide to Dan Snyder|last=McKenna|first=Dave|date=2010-11-19|website=Washington City Paper|access-date=2014-04-13}}

{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2011/02/02/snyder-sues/|title=Snyder Sues|last=Schaffer|first=Michael|date=2011-02-02|work=Washington City Paper|access-date=7 January 2018|publisher=Michael Schaffer}}

He and the Simon Wiesenthal Center claimed that the story used anti-Semitic tropes.

{{Cite web|url=https://forward.com/schmooze/135234/nfl-owner-enlists-wiesenthal-center-after-being-ri/|title=NFL Owner Enlists Wiesenthal Center After Being Ridiculed|last=Kaminer|first=Michael|website=The Forward|date=8 February 2011 |access-date=2019-11-12}}

Prominent sports journalists, Jewish groups,

{{Cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/06/AR2011020602499.html|title=Snyder's devil is in the details - and a name|last=Courtland|first=Milloy|date=February 6, 2011|newspaper=Washington Post}}

and Jewish writers published sharp criticism of Snyder and the Simon Wiesenthal Center's claims of anti-Semitism, referring in various opinion pieces and public statements to their statements as, "breathtakingly dumb allegation",{{Cite web|url=https://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/57978/wiesenthal-center-out-of-bounds-on-snyder|title=Wiesenthal Center Out-of-Bounds on Snyder|date=2011-02-03|website=Tablet Magazine|language=en|access-date=2019-11-12}} "almost unbearably stupid",

{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/02/oh-cut-the-crap-simon-wiesenthal-center/70735/|title=Oh, Cut the Crap, Simon Wiesenthal Center!|last=Goldberg|first=Jeffrey|date=2011-02-03|website=The Atlantic|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-12}}

and "so self-evidently lacking in merit".

{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/07/business/media/07carr.html|title=Dan Snyder's Odd Case Against Washington City Paper|last=Carr|first=David|date=2011-02-06|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-11-12|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

The Washington City Paper issued its own response in a published editorial, saying, "But we at City Paper take accusations of anti-Semitism seriously—in part because many of us are Jewish, including staffers who edited the story and designed the cover. So let us know, Mr. Snyder, when you want to fight the real anti-Semites."

{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/city-desk/blog/13062990/on-the-matter-of-dan-snyders-horns|title=On the Matter of Dan Snyder's Horns|website=Washington City Paper|date=2 February 2011|language=en|access-date=2019-11-12}}

In response, hundreds of loyal readers donated over $30,000 to a legal defense fund.

{{Cite news|url=https://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/03/readers-rally-around-washington-city-paper/|title=Readers Rally Around Washington City Paper|last=Ember|first=Sydney|date=3 July 2011|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-01-07|language=en}}

{{cite web |title=Stand With City Paper |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/legaldefense |website=Washington City Paper |access-date=26 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110407013159/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/legaldefense |archive-date=7 April 2011}}

In September 2011 the lawsuit was dropped, after, in December 2010, Washington D.C. passed{{cite web |title=Burke v. John Doe No. 1 |url=https://www.acludc.org/en/cases/burke-v-john-doe-no-1 |website=ACLU of DC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428201817/https://www.acludc.org/en/cases/burke-v-john-doe-no-1 |archive-date=April 28, 2021 |language=en |date=31 December 2016 |quote=In December of 2010, the D.C. Council passed (with our support) an Anti-SLAPP Act}} anti-SLAPP legislation ("David Donovan, the Redskins' former chief operating officer and general counsel, that threatened an expensive legal battle unless Snyder received a retraction and an apology"), while also, Amy Austin, the publisher, had written in a February article

{{cite news |last1=Austin |first1=Amy |title=Letter from the Publisher |url=https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/220261/letter-from-the-publisher-a-note-to-our-readers-and/ |access-date=26 September 2021 |work=Washington City Paper |date=25 February 2011 |quote=The story didn't actually say the things Snyder has claimed it does—like call him a criminal, or a user of illegal military chemicals, or mock his wife's battle against breast cancer. It did none of those things. In media interviews and in our own pages, City Paper editors have pointed this out repeatedly since the case was filed.}}

that unauthorized switching of long-distance accounts by Snyder Communications and GTE Communications was not meant to be construed as, by Snyder himself, but people who worked for Snyder Communications and GTE Communications.

{{cite news |last1=Farhi |first1=Paul |title=Redskins owner Dan Snyder drops lawsuit against Washington City Paper |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins-owner-dan-snyder-drops-lawsuit-against-washington-city-paper/2011/09/09/gIQA3hf1IK_story.html |access-date=26 September 2021 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=10 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714055849/http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins-owner-dan-snyder-drops-lawsuit-against-washington-city-paper/2011/09/09/gIQA3hf1IK_story.html |archive-date=2015-07-14}}

{{cite news |title=Dan Snyder Lawsuit - The Story So Far |url=https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/220947/dan-snyder-lawsuit-the-story-so-far/ |access-date=26 September 2021 |work=Washington City Paper |date=11 February 2011}}

{{cite news |last1=Austin |first1=Amy |title=From the Publisher to Our Readers (And Dan Snyder) |url=https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/467483/from-the-publisher-to-our-readers-and-dan-snyder/ |access-date=26 September 2021 |work=Washington City Paper |date=24 February 2011}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/

|title=Washington City Paper - D.C. Arts, News, Food and Living |website=www.washingtoncitypaper.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408193457/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/

|archive-date=8 April 2011 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/ |title=Washington City Paper - D.C. Arts, News, Food and Living |website=www.washingtoncitypaper.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110413062947/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/ |archive-date=13 April 2011 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |title=Now Comes The District Of Columbia To Protest The Dumbassness Of Dan Snyder's Dumbass Libel Suit |url=https://deadspin.com/now-comes-the-district-of-columbia-to-protest-the-dumba-5836599 |access-date=26 September 2021 |work=Deadspin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824020031/https://deadspin.com/now-comes-the-district-of-columbia-to-protest-the-dumba-5836599 |archive-date=August 24, 2019 |language=en-us}}

{{cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Keith L. |title=D.C. law unconstitutional, Dan Snyder argues in City Paper lawsuit |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/crime-scene/post/dc-law-unconstitutional-dan-snyder-argues-in-city-paper-lawsuit/2011/08/02/gIQApMqMqI_blog.html |access-date=26 September 2021 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=2 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110803030454/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/crime-scene/post/dc-law-unconstitutional-dan-snyder-argues-in-city-paper-lawsuit/2011/08/02/gIQApMqMqI_blog.html |archive-date=August 3, 2011}}

{{cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Keith L. |title=D.C. files motion in Daniel Snyder's lawsuit against the City Paper |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/crime-scene/post/dc-files-motion-in-daniel-snyders-lawsuit-against-the-city-paper/2011/08/31/gIQAtq0rsJ_blog.html |access-date=26 September 2021 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=31 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926180132/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/crime-scene/post/dc-files-motion-in-daniel-snyders-lawsuit-against-the-city-paper/2011/08/31/gIQAtq0rsJ_blog.html |archive-date=26 September 2021}}

Regular City Paper features include:

• a cover feature, 2,500 to 12,000 words in length
• an arts feature, 1,200 to 2,000 words in length
• The District Line, a section of shorter news features about D.C.
• Loose Lips, a news column and blog devoted to D.C. local politics{{cite web|last=Sommer |first=Will |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/ |title=Loose Lips - All About D.C. Politics |publisher=Washingtoncitypaper.com |access-date=2014-04-13}}
• Young & Hungry, a food column and blog{{cite web|last=Pipkin |first=Whitney |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/ |title=Young & Hungry - D.C. Restaurants and Food |publisher=Washingtoncitypaper.com |access-date=2014-04-13}}
• Housing Complex, a real estate column and blog{{cite web|last=Wiener |first=Aaron |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/ |title=Housing Complex - D.C. Real Estate, Development, and Urbanism |publisher=Washingtoncitypaper.com |access-date=2014-04-13}}
• Music, theater, film, gallery, and book reviews by various writers
• City Lights, a section comprising critics' events picks.

Also published is one syndicated feature:

• Savage Love, by Dan Savage

File:Washington City Paper dispenser.jpg metro station]]

• David Carr – Former staff writer, The New York Times; author, The Night of the Gun{{cite web|last1=Lefrak|first1=Mikaela|title=The David Carr Generation|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/09/david-carr-mentorship/539580/|website=The Atlantic|date=14 September 2017|access-date=29 October 2017}}
• Jake Tapper – Chief Washington correspondent, CNN
• Ta-Nehisi Coates – National correspondent, The Atlantic; author, Between the World and Me; MacArthur "Genius" grant recipient{{Cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2015/02/king-david/385596/|title=In Memory of David Carr, Who Made Me a Journalist|last=Coates|first=Ta-Nehisi|date=19 February 2015|work=The Atlantic|access-date=2018-01-07|language=en-US}}
• Katherine Boo – Author, Behind the Beautiful Forevers; MacArthur "Genius" grant recipient{{cite magazine|last1=Dixon|first1=Glenn|title=The Paper Where Ta-Nehisi Coates Learned the Ropes|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/122300/how-david-carrs-city-paper-shaped-todays-pre-eminent-black-writers|magazine=The New Republic|date=14 July 2015|access-date=29 October 2017}}
• Erik Wemple – Media critic, The Washington Post{{cite web|title=The 60-second interview: Erik Wemple, Washington Post media critic|url=https://www.politico.com/media/story/2014/06/the-60-second-interview-erik-wemple-washington-post-media-critic-002392|website=Politico|access-date=29 October 2017}}
• Jack Shafer – Senior media writer, Politico; former columnist, Reuters; former columnist, Slate{{cite web|last1=Mullin|first1=Benjamin|title=Press critic Jack Shafer to join Politico|date=9 January 2015|url=https://www.poynter.org/news/press-critic-jack-shafer-join-politico|access-date=29 October 2017}}
• Amanda Hess – Staff writer, The New York Times; former staff writer, Slate{{cite web|title=Amanda Hess to be Keynote Speaker at Raliance Media Summit|url=http://about.poynter.org/about-us/press-room/amanda-hess-be-keynote-speaker-raliance-media-summit|website=Poynter|access-date=29 October 2017}}
• Dave McKenna – Staff writer, Deadspin{{cite web|last1=Lynch|first1=Matthew|title=Deadspin hires Dave McKenna for the ESPN beat|url=https://www.politico.com/media/story/2014/04/deadspin-hires-dave-mckenna-for-the-espn-beat-002069|website=Politico|access-date=29 October 2017}}
• David Plotz – CEO, Atlas Obscura; co-host, Slate Political Gabfest; former staff writer, Slate
• Jelani Cobb – Staff writer, The New Yorker
• Clara Jeffery – Editor-in-chief, Mother Jones
• Kara Swisher – Co-founder, Recode
• Jason Cherkis – Reporter, HuffPost
• Neil Drumming – Producer, This American Life
• Amanda Ripley – Journalist and author
• Michael Schaffer – Editor, Washingtonian
• Brett Anderson – Contributing writer, The New York Times;{{cite web|title=Food's New Contributing Writer

|url=https://www.nytco.com/press/foods-new-contributing-writer/|website=The New York Times Company|date=9 July 2019|access-date=21 July 2019}} former restaurant critic, The Times-Picayune

• Tom Scocca – Deputy executive editor, Special Projects Desk, Gizmodo Media Group{{cite web|last1=Scocca|first1=Tom|title=Washington NFL Owner Daniel Snyder Finds Another Embarrassing, No-Win Project to Spend His Money On|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/scocca/2011/02/02/washington_nfl_owner_daniel_snyder_finds_another_embarrassing_no_win_project_to_spend_his_money_on.html|website=Slate|date=2 February 2011|access-date=29 October 2017}}
• Christina Cauterucci – Staff writer, Slate{{cite web|title=Who We Are|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/briefing/staff/2001/10/slate_s_masthead_who_we_are.html|website=Slate|access-date=29 October 2017}}
• Lydia DePillis – Economics reporter, CNNMoney; former economics reporter, Houston Chronicle; former business reporter, The Washington Post{{cite web|last1=Roush|first1=Chris|title=Houston Chronicle econ reporter DePillis leaves for CNNMoney|url=http://talkingbiznews.com/1/houston-chronicle-econ-reporter-depillis-leaves-for-cnnmoney/|website=Talking Biz News|date=30 September 2017|access-date=29 October 2017}}
• Jonathan Fischer – Senior editor, Slate
• Josh Levin – Executive editor, Slate
• Jessica Sidman – Food editor, Washingtonian{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2017/06/02/some-ideas-for-saving-washington-city-paper/|title=Three Ideas for Saving Washington City Paper*|last=Beaujon|first=Andrew|date=2017-06-02|work=Washingtonian|access-date=2018-01-07|language=en-US}}
• Mike DeBonis – Reporter, The Washington Post{{cite news |title=Mike DeBonis joins congressional team |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/pr/wp/2015/02/11/mike-debonis-joins-congressional-team/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=10 June 2018}}
• Alan Suderman, Virginia statehouse reporter, Associated Press{{cite web |title=AP hires Alan Suderman as Va. statehouse reporter |url=https://www.ap.org/ap-in-the-news/2013/ap-hires-alan-suderman-as-va.-statehouse-reporter |website=Associated Press |access-date=10 June 2018}}
• Will Sommer – Reporter, The Daily Beast{{cite web |last1=Roush |first1=Chris |title=Daily Beast hires Sommer to cover tech and digital culture |url=http://talkingbiznews.com/1/daily-beast-hires-sommer-to-cover-tech-and-digital-culture/ |website=Talking Biz News |date=16 May 2018 |access-date=10 June 2018}}
• Shani Hilton – Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times{{cite web|title=Los Angeles Times Names Shani Hilton Deputy Managing Editor|url=https://www.latimes.com/about/pressreleases/la-mediagroup-20190403-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=3 April 2019|access-date=7 April 2019}}
• Perry Stein – Reporter, The Washington Post{{Cite news |date=10 September 2022 |title=Perry Stein |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/perry-stein/ |access-date=10 September 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com Washington City Paper]
• [http://inkwellxwords.com/ Ink Well Crosswords]

Category:Alternative weekly newspapers published in the United States

Category:Newspapers published in Washington, D.C.

Category:Newspapers established in 1981