Here’s New York Observer publisher Jared Kushner’s memo to staff, announcing Ken Kurson as the paper’s new top editor:
Dear Observer Media Group,
I wanted to share some exciting news about the continued growth of our company – Ken Kurson is joining the Observer Media Group as Editorial Director and Editor in Chief of The New York Observer.
Ken knows the ideas, stories and voices that make up New York better than anyone. He is a journalist and an author and through his years as a consultant observed the figures who create the framework of business, politics, media, tech, culture and real estate in our city.
He comes to us from Esquire Magazine, where he was a columnist and contributing editor and Jamestown Associates, one of the nation’s leading public affairs firms. He worked alongside Mayor Giuliani during the events of September 11, 2001 and co-authored the Mayor’s No. 1 bestseller Leadership. Ken also worked on Rudy’s presidential campaign as the Chief Operating Officer. In addition, he served as an editor at large at Time, Inc. and has written for diverse publications like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Spin, The Source, Slate, Salon and Rolling Stone.
Ken is a close and trusted friend who shares our vision for being a paper of ideas. I have tried to get Ken to work with us for years and am so proud that the Observer and all our properties are now at a place where we could attract someone with his breadth of experience.
2013 sets the stage for what will be an incredible time in New York: politics in a post-Bloomberg era, the continued rise of Silicon Alley, media’s transformation, the impact of finance, the evolution of real estate and the arts and culture that surrounds it all, among countless others. It is a perfect time for Ken to join all of you in showing our readers how the city works.
When Elizabeth stepped down over the summer, Aaron Gell was gracious enough to become the interim editor through the end of 2012. I want to thank him for everything that he has done in leading the Observer. We hope that Aaron stays with the paper in his previous role as Executive Editor.
In 2012 we continued to expand and demonstrate how a media company can take advantage of this digital age – revenue grew 25% for another record year and our editorial budget is now 50% higher than it was when I bought the company.
I look forward to the continued success of both our business and our journalism under Ken’s leadership in 2013 and for years to come.
Ken will be at the office later this afternoon to properly introduce himself to everyone and to get started.
Yours,
Jared
