COVERAWARDS' EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Time Out New Yorks' Editor In Chief Michael Freidson

When I went to the newsstand this week, Time Out NY’s latest cover caught my eye – in a good way.

Michael Freidson spoke to CoverAwards exclusively about his latest cover plus how things have been going since he took over as EIC earlier this year.

Here’s what he had to say:

Pasetsky: How did you select the cover topic?

Freidson: Our issue is about activism, but that word—”activism”—could potentially turn off a lot of New Yorkers, who generally don’t like to be told how to be socially responsible.

Yet we wanted the reader to “rise up” and think about how they’d change NYC. The fist, and the Russian vibe, had a “unite” feel to it.

We’re all in it together—the reader AND Time Out New York.

And yes, New Yorkers do want to make a change, or at least they wish someone else would—why else would they always complain about the subway or the high rents?

Pasetsky: You used a sidebar this week, which is new. Is that something you’ll be doing regularly?

Freidson: It’s new. We loved our “Change New York” concept and cover but there’s so much more in the issue—”The Dark Knight” review, a fashion story and 414 free events. The “back of the book”—which covers what to do that week, with arts and entertainment reviews—never gets much play on the cover. With this new sidebar, which we’ll run occasionally, that won’t be a problem.

Pasetsky: How has it been since you took over EIC?

Freidson: Knock on wood, fairly smooth. Look for a new section or two in the coming months.

Pasetsky: What’s your favorite cover so far – and your least favorite cover?

Freidson: When we put duct tape on the mouths of the “Sex and the City” stars—that was big for us. Although the show’s creator (and a good number of readers) accused us of sexism, we were merely commenting on the hype surrounding the film. Sarah Jessica Parker, when asked about it on Charlie Rose, said she understood as much.

My least favorite: our recent Dance cover, if only because we held a contest for middle schoolers to design their own version, and some of them were cooler than ours.

Pasetsky: How are sales on the newsstand?

Freidson: Good. Rough marketplace but people still need to know about the best food and coolest events.

Pasetsky: Are you working 24/7 or have you found a good pace in your new role?

Freidson: More like 22/7. It’s everyone else here who’s working harder—we have a great team.

Pasetsky: What advice do you have for other editors in chiefs or those that want to be one?

Freidson: The obvious: Surround yourself with talented, hungry people who can tell new stories, or retell old favorites differently.

Posted by: Mark Pasetsky