May 20-26, 2004

pretzel logic

Howard's End

by Paul Curci

As some of you may have read, I asked Howard Altman to step down as editor in chief of City Paper last Thursday. Howard had been associated with City Paper for more than 10 years and had served as editor for the past 14 months.

So, just over a year after promoting Howard, I'm forced to retract that decision -- and it leaves me with sense of sadness and regret.

As I stated in a recent press release, Howard is a terrific news man and an accomplished editor. The New York Times and Washington Post use him on a freelance basis. His investigative-reporting skills are second to none. That's where he'll make his greatest contribution in our industry.

In the end, we simply disagreed about how best to manage the department.

No replacement has been named at this time, but a national search is under way. In the meantime, Managing Editors Brian Hickey (News) and Debra Auspitz (A&E) will continue to lead their respective departments.

On any given week, anywhere from 30 to 45 different voices resonate from these pages. Those reporters, editors, critics and guest commentators help shape our opinions and provide information and analysis relevant to our lives. We are and always will be committed to that pursuit. And although change can be a painful process, it's also necessary if you're committed to growth.

A few weeks ago, I asked the managers of City Paper about their core values. The two that Howard chose as the most important to him were integrity and legacy.

Integrity means that your words and your deeds match up, that you are who you are, no matter where you are or who you are with. By that measure, Howard lives his life with honesty. Legacy means making a difference, and what Howard has achieved here has certainly done that.

Earlier this week, I invited the staff to share some of their thoughts about Howard, for the purpose of inclusion in this column. Here's a sampling of some of the comments I received:

"He was always a good read … one of the things I look forward to when I pick up the paper every week."

"I think the worst move Howard made was taking the editor job. He's the best damn reporter I've ever read."

"Altman has more passion for journalism than anybody I've worked with in Philadelphia."

"A sensational reporter and a man so keen on what makes a good story great, that both my craft and my contributions to City Paper were immeasurably improved by his guidance."

"In an era where many editors are quick to doubt their reporters, Howard stood by his."

"It was so obviously important to him to push the envelope. Whether it was the mayor or one of his staff writers, he insisted on getting every inch he could. Aside from all the work stuff, he was a fun-loving guy with a passion for music, a good cigar and a bottle of whiskey."

And yet, while it's easy for most of us to find glowing things to say about Howard's skills and contributions to City Paper, it's also not difficult for most people to understand why he is no longer the editor here. As I've stated earlier, change is a necessary part of growth, both for the newspaper as a whole and for the individuals who work here.

And while I regret Howard will not have a hand in shaping that growth, I do not regret the decision I made last Thursday afternoon.

City Paper is comprised of a group of smart, creative individuals who are committed to quality and excellence. While there is a sense of sadness that we all feel in the wake of Howard's departure, there is also a sense of enthusiasm about the prospect of growth.

As for me, Howard and I both share a vision for what this paper represents, and where its potential lies. Most of us here understand the impact we have on the city and appreciate the close relationship we have with our readers. We understand what's expected of us, and this team is well-equipped to continue delivering it.

In time, we hope Howard's voice will reappear in our pages. He's certainly been invited -- even encouraged -- to continue contributing stories and to continue writing his column, "Pretzel Logic." Time will tell.

In case you're wondering, there were no theatrics, no drama, no yelling; just two men trying to come to terms with our different approaches to achieving the same goals. Irreconcilable differences, unfortunately.

To characterize those differences from my perspective, in general terms, I prefer to take the paved back roads, while Howard is content to drive straight through the jungle (which wreaks havoc on your tires and chassis). In the end, however, we've both chosen the high road.

And I suspect our friendship will endure.