By: Lucia Moses The Tribune Co.-backed commuter tabloid
amNewYork is readying for a Friday launch, while European publisher Metro International is rumored to be planning a spoiler paper that would be its third U.S. transit edition after Philadelphia and Boston.
Metro is running help-wanted ads in
The New York Times and on JournalismJobs.com stating it is looking for staff as it expands its East Coast presence. New York was listed as the location for the
Times ad.
Metro typically keeps its launch plans close to the vest. The company has said it wouldn't launch any more papers until its existing ones are steadily profitable. Last month, however, the company hinted it had more to come when it gave its Philadelphia publisher, Jim McDonald, the new title of vice president of business development with responsibility for aiding new launches.
Steve Morris, Metro's chief operating officer for the Americas, wouldn't comment on the possibility of a New York edition, saying only, "We are having fun putting out the papers we have. Certainly the U.S. is a bright opportunity."
Hawkers for
amNewYork Tuesday handed out promotional flyers describing the new tab. Expected to run 32 pages, it will be available in boxes and through hawkers. Designed to be read during a commute, the quick-read will target young readers whom traditional dailies have had difficulty reaching.
If Metro goes ahead with its own New York edition,
amNewYork would know its enemy; its management team is headed by Russel Pergament, who used to publish Metro's Boston edition, and includes other former Metro executives.
While Metro's 25 worldwide editions tend to rely heavily on wire content and be opinion-free,
amNewYork executives said local content and editorials will distinguish their paper. The editor in chief, former New York
Daily News editorial board member Alex Storozynski, will head a staff of 11 that includes alums of the
Daily News as well as other local papers. Features, in addition to editorials, will include transit, dating, and consumer columns; entertainment; and restaurant health code violator listings, according to the promo piece.
"I think it's just going to have this special New York feel to it," said Floyd Weintraub, a spokesman for the paper.
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