The Detroit Metro Times: The Success of a Small, Independent, Highly Irreverent Newspaper
Abstract
The Detroit Metro Times is an alternative, leftist, bi-weekly newspaper, founded in 1980 by
two college friends, Ron Williams and Laura Markham. During the fall of 1982, I worked for
the Metro Times as assistant to Williams, the editor. My duties included returning the phone calls
which Williams didn't want to return; writing letters he didn't want to write; coordinating the
crew of volunteers who came in to proofread on production days; compiling the alternative
cinema schedule for the calendar of events, the staff box and the table of contents; tilling in as
receptionist, keyliner and proofreader when needed; and doing the scores of small editorial,
organizational, artistic, financial and menial tasks which arose while I was there. I got a small
taste of every area of the paper, and a good idea of its overall functionings.