September 28, 2018 –  In addition to its partners ‘New York’ magazine and Lenfest Institute for Journalism, six foundations have contributed $8.5 million.  Months after Crain’s predicted that nonprofits “could be the future of New York journalism,” New York magazine and its partners announced the creation of The City, a donation-driven news group that will begin covering local affairs in January. An array of foundations already has advanced The City $8.5 million to build a staff of 20, and Daily News veteran Jere Hester has signed on to serve as editor-in-chief.

“We think it’s going to become the new normal, as people realize that having an informed and engaged public is the responsibility of the public itself and of civic-minded individuals,” said The City Executive Director Kai Falkenberg, former first deputy commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. “We can’t rely on it any more being paid solely by advertisers.”