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.