WXXI announced on Wednesday that local award-winning journalist David Andreatta has been hired as the new editor of CITY Newspaper. WXXI acquired CITY in May, and the hiring of Andreatta was announced through WXXI’s subsidiary, Rochester Area Media Partners (RAMP).
Andreatta brings to the position nearly 20 years of experience as an investigative journalist and columnist for a variety of newspapers, most recently with the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. He will succeed CITY Newspaper co-founder and co-publisher Mary Anna Towler, who is retiring.
“We are proud to have David join the talented and committed staff at CITY Newspaper to help preserve and expand independent local journalism in the Rochester area,” said Norm Silverstein, president of WXXI and chair of the RAMP Board. “We look forward to enhanced coverage of arts and culture, neighborhoods, and important issues facing our community, such as the need for education reform.”
Andreatta will lead a team of journalists and be responsible for the content management and growth of CITY Newspaper, including the weekly printed version, as well as its digital products, publications, portfolio, and special events. He will ensure that CITY Newspaper maintains an intense focus on local news, culture and the arts with an emphasis on long-form and narrative journalism and a commitment to individual freedoms and social differences.
“For nearly 50 years, CITY Newspaper has provided smart, courageous, and colorful coverage of our community and beyond. I’m thrilled to join its team of talented journalists and look forward to working with them and WXXI to build upon CITY’s long tradition of telling the stories of greater Rochester that so often go overlooked," Andreatta said.
Jeremy Moule, CITY's longtime environment, government, and politics writer, will become news editor.
Bill and Mary Anna Towler founded Rochester’s alternative news weekly, CITY Newspaper, in 1971 and approached WXXI as the logical partner as they planned their retirement. On May 1, 2019 WXXI officially acquired CITY Newspaper under RAMP, a for-profit subsidiary of WXXI.
Andreatta's appointment as the new CITY editor is effective September 16. Mary Anna Towler will retire as of October 31.
