Village Voice Media

Village Voice Media

Company type	Private
Industry	Newspaper publishing
Predecessor	New Times Inc.
Founded	June 9, 1970 (1970-06-09) in Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Founder	Michael Lacey, Jim Larkin
Fate	Rebranded as Village Voice Media Holdings after 2006 acquisition of The Village Voice
Headquarters	Phoenix , United States
Area served	United States (major urban centers)
Key people	Michael Lacey (co-founder), Jim Larkin (co-founder)
Products	Weekly alternative newspapers including New Times and The Village Voice

Village Voice Media (VVM) is a privately held newspaper enterprise established in 1970 in Phoenix, Arizona, by editors Michael Lacey and Jim Larkin. Initially operating under the name New Times Inc. (NTI), it launched its flagship weekly publication, New Times. By 2001, NTI had grown to encompass 13 newspapers located in major urban centers throughout the United States, primarily through strategic acquisitions. Following the 2006 purchase of The Village Voice, the organization rebranded as Village Voice Media Holdings, commonly identified thereafter as NTI/VVM.

Rise of alternative newspapers

The alternative press movement began with the founding of The Village Voice in New York City in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, and Norman Mailer. This publication became a prominent forum for a wide range of viewpoints and intellectual debate.

During the late 1960s, the underground press flourished alongside political activism and countercultural movements, peaking with over 500 titles nationwide. Important examples included Berkeley Barb, Los Angeles Free Press, and The Great Speckled Bird. In contrast to these activist-oriented underground papers, The Village Voice and Paul Krassner’s The Realist prioritized high-quality journalism and diverse perspectives rather than radical political agendas.

Most underground newspapers ceased operations by the early 1970s due to unsustainable business models, governmental pressures, and the conclusion of the Vietnam War. A select group of publications—such as the San Francisco Bay Guardian, The Boston Phoenix, and Vancouver’s The Georgia Straight—survived by adopting more viable publishing strategies modeled after The Village Voice. Among these was the Phoenix-based Phoenix New Times, which later became part of NTI’s growing network.

Founding period

The establishment of Phoenix New Times (originally New Times) was motivated by opposition to the Vietnam War, particularly President Richard Nixon’s 1970 Cambodian incursion and the Kent State shootings. Protests at Arizona State University were largely ignored or misrepresented by the conservative-leaning The Arizona Republic, prompting Michael Lacey—an ASU alumnus with a passion for journalism—and colleagues Frank Fiore and Karen Lofgren to create their own publication. Launched as The Arizona Times on June 9, 1970, it was rebranded as New Times in September 1970 and began issuing weekly editions.

Originally functioning as a collective, New Times carved out a distinct voice focused on social and political topics while gradually increasing its revenue streams. In 1972, Jim Larkin—a Phoenix native—joined to oversee business operations and sales, bringing valuable management expertise. The company incorporated as New Times Inc. in October 1971 but faced financial challenges, conducting a $38,000 public stock offering in 1973 that resulted in over 200 shareholders but limited capital infusion.

Larkin assumed roles as publisher and president in 1974, foreshadowing his future leadership as CEO of a significant alternative newsweekly chain. Nevertheless, low salaries and internal tensions led to staff turnover; Lacey departed in 1974 followed by Larkin in 1975. Phillip Adams succeeded them but encountered shareholder dissatisfaction due to poor communication and insufficient local engagement. In 1977, former executives including Lacey and Larkin orchestrated a shareholder-supported takeover ("the coup"), moving headquarters to downtown Phoenix and revitalizing operations.

With circulation at a modest 17,000 copies, New Times gained momentum by publishing Investigative Reporters and Editors' The Arizona Project, which investigated the 1975 murder of Arizona Republic journalist Don Bolles—an inquiry the Republic itself had declined to cover. This exposé significantly increased readership and ignited an ongoing rivalry with the Republic, including a dismissed libel lawsuit filed by its publisher Duke Tully, who subsequently resigned amid revelations about fabricated military service.

To stimulate business expansion, New Times adopted a free-distribution model aimed at younger audiences, inspired by the success of the Chicago Reader. By 1984, its weekly circulation had grown to 140,000 copies. The paper broadened its editorial scope beyond news reporting to include comprehensive listings and cultural coverage—such as music, dining, film, and arts—thereby enhancing its market presence and appeal to advertisers.

Early Key Team Members

Under Lacey's guidance, the firm brought on board pivotal figures who established the groundwork for its subsequent expansion:

• Bob Boze Bell: Entered the company in 1978 as visuals editor, Bell was the creator of the esteemed Honkytonk Sue comic strip and later took ownership of True West Magazine, publishing it since 1999.

• Jana Bommersbach: Recruited in 1978 from the Arizona Republic, she assumed roles as managing editor and subsequently editor of New Times. Honored with the Virg Hill Newsperson of the Year Award in 1982, she authored the acclaimed true crime work The Trunk Murderess.

• Dewey Webb: Joining in 1978 from the Phoenix Gazette, Webb received several accolades for his unique cultural journalism spanning twenty years.

• Hal Smith: Beginning his career in sales in 1979, Smith progressed to advertising director, where he implemented strategies that propelled revenue from $699,000 in 1980 to $9.9 million by 1987, marking a 1300% increase.

• Scott Spear: A former record store proprietor who joined in 1980 to streamline business operations and broaden free distribution. He pioneered NTI’s voice-personals service and spearheaded acquisition efforts, also founding the national Association for Alternative Newsweeklies (AAN).

• Lee Newquist: Employed in 1982, he advanced to publisher positions at Westword and Dallas Observer, served as executive vice president of operations, and acquired the Fort Worth Weekly in 2001.

• Christine Brennan: Starting in production in 1980, she rose to managing editor roles at both Westword and New Times Media, ultimately becoming executive editor following NTI's acquisition by Voice Media Group.

• Deborah Laake: An award-winning writer and managing editor hired in 1982, recognized by Columbia Journalism School and Arizona Press Club; author of Secret Ceremonies. She passed away in 2000.

• Andy Van De Voorde: Joining in 1983, he progressed from calendar editor to music editor and managing editor at Westword. Since 1998, he has overseen writer recruitment as NTI’s executive associate editor and continues his role with Voice Media Group.

These leaders played a crucial role in defining the company’s editorial excellence, operational development, and market presence during its period of growth.

1980s: Expansion and Growth

With sales climbing rapidly and a redesign that transformed the paper into a classic tabloid format, Larkin and Lacey sought new avenues for expansion. Their innovative approaches boosted both revenue streams and editorial standards. The "Best Of" concept, initially introduced in Phoenix in 1979, evolved into a highly profitable annual edition that generated substantial advertising income through focused sales initiatives and promotional campaigns. By 1984, the Best of Phoenix issue had grown to 288 pages spread over two sections.

Between 1983 and 2001, NTI rolled out "Best Of" editions across all acquired titles, securing trademarks for the phrase in major markets such as Phoenix, Denver, Miami, Dallas, and Houston. The company successfully upheld these trademarks in federal court against prominent competitors like Ticketmaster-Citysearch (2001) and Yelp (2012), strengthening its market position.

Revenue surged notably in Phoenix followed by Denver and Miami. Phoenix's New Times expanded from roughly 32 pages in 1979 to more than 160 pages weekly by the mid-1980s, driven largely by Smith's effective sales and marketing tactics. Advertising volume became the central growth indicator, bolstered by a thriving classified section filled with paid ads that attracted strong reader interest.

In 1983, New Times revolutionized its classifieds by introducing "Romance" ads—paid personal advertisements utilizing mailbox numbers for anonymous communication—paving the way for a profitable personals market.

That year also marked NTI’s inaugural newspaper acquisition: Westword, a Denver biweekly founded by Patricia Calhoun in 1977. Purchased for about $67,000, Westword was converted into a weekly publication under NTI’s ownership. Despite initial difficulties caused by Colorado’s severe recession following Exxon’s shale oil shutdown announcement in 1982 ("Black Sunday"), NTI eventually stabilized Westword, which became a cornerstone asset alongside Phoenix New Times for national growth.

To support expansion efforts, NTI purchased and renovated the historic Booker T. Washington Elementary School near downtown Phoenix as its headquarters—a building emblematic of the city’s African-American heritage.

Although operationally successful, NTI faced challenges establishing banking relationships due to its alternative newspaper model lacking paid circulation or tangible assets. In 1987, banker Gary Driggs extended credit that enabled NTI to buy out over 200 minority shareholders remaining from a failed 1973 IPO, consolidating ownership among Larkin, Lacey, and three key executives.

Around this period, NTI acquired its third publication—The Wave, a modest alternative paper from Miami Beach founded in 1986—for less than $100,000. Utilizing new credit facilities and profits from Phoenix New Times, Larkin and Lacey invested $1.4 million to rejuvenate the paper. Central to this effort was hiring Jim Mullin as editor; under his leadership, Miami New Times achieved journalistic distinction and commercial success over nearly twenty years.

1990s: period of rapid growth and expansion

In 1989, NTI implemented a novel revenue strategy that substantially boosted profits and propelled swift growth throughout the 1990s.

Pay-per-call services, originating in the 1970s, charged users for information accessed via 900 or 976 numbers, with proceeds shared between telephone companies and service providers. NTI leveraged a late-1980s breakthrough called Audiotext, which merged pay-per-call with interactive voice response (IVR) systems. This innovation enabled callers to leave voice messages linked to print advertisements.

The Boston Phoenix introduced this technology to alternative media in 1989, allowing readers to respond to personal ads by dialing a 900 number and leaving recorded messages. NTI acquired Audiotext equipment and negotiated directly with phone carriers, eventually establishing its own telecom company to minimize expenses.

Within two years, NTI's publications generated over $2 million annually from Audiotext services, increasing to more than $4 million after four years. Between 1990 and 2001, Audiotext brought in upwards of $35 million, at times representing 11% of NTI’s overall revenue.

By mid-1991, profitable operations in Phoenix and Denver combined with growing Audiotext income enabled NTI to strategize rapid entry into the top 15 U.S. media markets. This expansion was supported by a boutique investment bank. That year, key executive Jed Brunst joined as CFO to professionalize financial management and facilitate acquisitions.

Throughout the 1990s, NTI accelerated its acquisition activity. In late 1991, it acquired the Dallas Observer for roughly $3 million. The shutdown of the competing Dallas Times-Herald allowed the Dallas Morning News to increase advertising rates, creating favorable pricing dynamics benefiting NTI’s second-largest Dallas publication.

Peter Elkind was appointed editor of the Observer; he later co-authored a bestselling book on the Enron scandal. Distinguished alumni included sports commentator Skip Bayless and Dallas mayor Laura Miller.

In 1993, NTI purchased the Houston Press, capitalizing on the closure of Houston’s smaller daily paper in 1995. Similar patterns emerged as competitor shutdowns enhanced advertising prospects for NTI’s outlets.

NTI expanded its national advertising reach in 1995 by acquiring the Ruxton Group from the Chicago Reader. This move broadened national ad sales across member papers and aggressively targeted other alternative weeklies. By 2002, Ruxton represented 52 prominent alternative publications.

Also in 1995, NTI acquired SF Weekly amid intense competition in the Bay Area from multiple alternative weeklies and daily papers under a Joint Operating Agreement. Editor Jack Shafer repositioned SF Weekly with investigative journalism that distinguished it from rivals; Shafer later became a prominent media critic.

In 1996, NTI entered the Los Angeles market by acquiring and merging two alternative weeklies into New Times Los Angeles. Despite efforts to establish profitability, this venture remained unprofitable and was sold in 2002.

NTI launched The Long Island Voice in 1997 with an initial circulation of 50,000 but closed it three years later due to lack of profitability.

Also in 1997, NTI introduced New Times Broward-Palm Beach to target demographic differences near Miami-Dade County; this publication remained profitable through much of the early 2000s.

NTI expanded into the Midwest by acquiring Cleveland Scene (1998), The Riverfront Times of St. Louis (1998), and The Pitch in Kansas City (1999). While The Riverfront Times flourished under NTI with increased editorial investment, Cleveland Scene faced competitive pressures leading to its sale in 2002 alongside the Los Angeles paper.

In 2000, NTI consolidated its Dallas-Fort Worth presence by purchasing Fort Worth Weekly, which was later sold to longtime executive Lee Newquist.

Later that year, NTI expanded its Bay Area footprint by acquiring Oakland’s East Bay Express prior to the economic downturn following September 11.

By the end of 2000, sales from NTI’s alternative weeklies surpassed $10 million with profitability. However, the collapse of the dotcom bubble triggered financial difficulties across the sector, resulting in closures and sales of several papers amid legal disputes between competitors over incurred losses.

21st century: 2001 to present

During the late 1990s, NTI publications experienced considerable expansion coinciding with a national upswing in alternative weeklies and print media. The recovering economy after the recession, combined with the growing influence of the Internet, drove advertising revenues upward, particularly from dotcom enterprises. NTI established its initial website in 1995 and rapidly broadened its digital footprint across all its titles.

Nevertheless, the dotcom collapse in 2000 represented the zenith of NTI's revenue growth, followed by a prolonged period of downturn over the next decade as shifting market conditions and digital innovation diminished the alternative press’s share. That same year, Boston-based Alta Communications acquired a minority interest in NTI, injecting capital to support growth initiatives.

Confronted with financial pressures, NTI prioritized improving operational efficiency by reducing costs and divesting underperforming publications between 2002 and 2011. On September 10, 2001, the company announced its inaugural round of layoffs.

In 2002, NTI engaged in a strategic exchange of assets with competitor Village Voice Media (VVM), trading publications in Los Angeles and Cleveland to strengthen their respective market positions. This transaction resulted in the closure of weaker newspapers in both cities but also prompted an antitrust inquiry by the U.S. Department of Justice, which compelled the sale of certain outlets to new competitors. Although these newly owned papers eventually folded, LA Weekly and Cleveland Scene persisted.

NTI co-founder Lacey publicly justified the challenging decision to divest New Times Los Angeles by underscoring that financial viability was critical to sustaining high-quality journalism.

By the mid-2000s, NTI and VVM had become leading forces within the alternative weekly sector. In October 2005, NTI acquired VVM, assembling a portfolio of 17 weeklies with a total circulation nearing 1.8 million. This acquisition reinstated NTI’s presence in Los Angeles through LA Weekly and incorporated renowned titles such as the Village Voice, Seattle Weekly, City Pages (Minneapolis), Nashville Scene, and OC Weekly.

Following this merger, NTI rebranded itself as Village Voice Media Holdings (commonly known as VVM), emerging as North America’s largest alternative newspaper conglomerate among over 125 similar publications.

To oversee the expanded enterprise, co-founder Larkin appointed Scott Tobias—who had risen from sales representative to group publisher—as president and chief operating officer. Under Tobias’s guidance, revenue declines were temporarily softened despite ongoing industry challenges.

The emergence of online classified platforms disrupted traditional newspaper advertising revenues. In response, NTI launched Backpage.com in 2004 as a free classifieds website that swiftly became the second-largest U.S. platform in this category. Backpage featured sections distinctive to alternative weeklies, including adult services ads safeguarded under First Amendment rights.

After Craigslist eliminated adult services listings in 2010 due to regulatory pressures, Backpage gained prominence as a leading site for such advertisements but faced legal accusations alleging it facilitated sex trafficking. VVM defended Backpage by invoking Section 230 protections and prevailed in all legal disputes while intensifying efforts to remove illegal content.

Beyond Backpage-related litigation, NTI/VVM encountered other legal challenges. In 2004, SF Weekly was sued by rival San Francisco Bay Guardian for alleged predatory pricing intended to eliminate competition. The case concluded with a $15.6 million judgment against NTI/VVM following appeals and was ultimately resolved confidentially.

Conversely, co-founders Lacey and Larkin were legally vindicated after their 2007 arrests by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on charges related to grand jury secrecy violations connected with investigative journalism. The charges were dismissed; subsequent lawsuits resulted in a $3.75 million settlement in 2013. The founders directed these settlement funds toward establishing the Frontera Foundation supporting Phoenix’s Hispanic community.

Arpaio’s controversial tenure included investigations by the Department of Justice into racial profiling practices and civil rights lawsuits settled in 2015; his legal difficulties continued with federal contempt charges filed in 2016.

In 2012, Lacey and Larkin departed from alternative journalism when VVM sold its newspapers and digital properties to Scott Tobias and other executives who formed Denver-based Voice Media Group (VMG) with backing from private investors.

NTI/VVM maintained ownership of Backpage.com until December 2014 when it sold the platform to a Dutch holding company, marking a strategic withdrawal from the online classifieds market.

Chronology of Newspaper Assets

VILLAGE VOICE MEDIA HOLDINGS formerly NEW TIMES MEDIA HOLDINGS formerly NEW TIMES INC. Newspaper Title	Acquisition or Launch Date	Disposal Date	Buyer
Phoenix New Times	1970	2012	Voice Media Group (VMG)
Westword (Denver)	1983	2012	VMG
Miami New Times	1987	2012	VMG
Dallas Observer	1991	2012	VMG
Houston Press	1993	2012	VMG
SF Weekly	1995	2013	San Francisco Media Company/Black Press
Los Angeles Reader	1996	1996	consolidated into New Times LA
LA View	1996	1996	consolidated into New Times LA
New Times LA	1996	2002	Village Voice Media Inc.
New Times Broward-Palm Beach	1997	2012	VMG
Cleveland Scene	1998	2008	Times-Shamrock Communications
Riverfront Times (St. Louis)	1998	2012	VMG
The Pitch (Kansas City)	1999	2011	SouthComm Communications
Fort Worth Weekly	2000	2001	Lee Newquist
East Bay Express (San Francisco Bay Area)	2001	2007	Stephen Buel/Hal Brody
Nashville Scene	2006	2009	SouthComm Communications
Village Voice (New York)	2006	2012	VMG
LA Weekly	2006	2012	VMG
OC Weekly (Orange County, CA)	2006	2012	VMG
City Pages (Minneapolis)	2006	2012	VMG
Seattle Weekly	2006	2013	Sound Publishing/Black Press

Editorial Philosophy

NTI/VVM built a reputation for bold, autonomous journalism that deliberately explored topics often neglected by mainstream outlets. Their newspapers also emerged as vital venues for regional arts and culture, with particular attention to rock music and refined restaurant reviews, setting them apart within the media landscape.

From the company's inception in 1970 until the divestiture of its titles in 2012, it maintained a distinctive editorial stance. Early leadership, including founder Lacey, prioritized intellectual sincerity over conventional neutrality, encouraging reporters to express their perspectives while upholding factual accuracy.

This editorial outlook underpinned a business strategy focused on in-depth, independent reporting. In 1978, the organization institutionalized editorial autonomy by creating an editorial board responsible for content decisions free from publisher influence—an unusual governance model in the newspaper sector. This structural separation reinforced the company’s strategic vision and dedication to editorial integrity as a market differentiator.

Accolades Received by New Times Inc. / Village Voice Media Holdings

NTI/VVM's publications achieved notable industry accolades, such as the prestigious Pulitzer Prize awarded in 2007 to LA Weekly’’ food critic Jonathan Gold. Additionally, the company’s journalists were contenders for five further Pulitzer awards.

Beyond the Pulitzer honors, NTI/VVM writers garnered numerous esteemed journalism distinctions:

• Investigative Reporters and Editors Awards: a total of 39 honors, including five first-place recognitions.
• Livingston Awards for Young Journalists: earned 39 awards with four first-place laureates.
• Sigma Delta Chi Awards: ten recipients.
• James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards: accumulated 67 awards with twenty-one first-place victories.

Between 1982 and the company's sale in 2012, NTI/VVM and its contributors secured an aggregate of 1,520 first-place trophies across a broad spectrum of national, regional, state, and local contests, along with nominations totaling another 2,289 awards.

Journalists affiliated with NTI/VVM were honored as Journalist of the Year on twenty-eight occasions at state or local levels. Particularly notable is that writers from Phoenix New Times’’ received this distinction fourteen times over a span of twenty-nine years, with Paul Rubin, John Dougherty, and Terry Greene each earning the title three times.

Major local investigations

NTI/VVM's reporting on community issues frequently sparked meaningful reforms at municipal, state, and federal levels. Prominent instances include:

LA Weekly food critic Jonathan Gold Receives First Pulitzer for Restaurant Criticism, April 16, 2007

Jonathan Gold was honored with the inaugural Pulitzer Prize given to a restaurant critic, acknowledged for broadening the scope of food journalism to embrace everyday dining experiences. His emphasis on modest eateries illuminated the rich culinary diversity of Los Angeles, demonstrating his intimate knowledge of the city.

"The People Under the Bridge," Miami New Times, December 13, 2007

Isaiah Thompson, a New Times fellow, exposed how Florida statutes compelled paroled sex offenders to reside beneath a Miami overpass. This investigative piece earned first place in the Investigative Reporters & Editors competition and attracted widespread national media coverage.

"Sheriff Joe's Real Estate Game," Phoenix New Times, July 1, 2004, and "Breathtaking Abuse of the Constitution," October 18, 2007

Journalist John Dougherty uncovered questionable real estate dealings by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio alongside manipulation of public documentation. The resulting dispute led to subpoenas demanding New Times’ internal records and visitor information. Founders Larkin and Lacey disclosed the subpoenas publicly and faced arrest but were subsequently released. They initiated legal action for wrongful detention, culminating in a $3.75 million settlement in 2013. Meanwhile, County Attorney Andrew Thomas was disbarred in 2012 following revelations of judicial improprieties.

"The War Within," Westword, January 30, 2003

Westword revealed pervasive sexual abuse issues at the Air Force Academy, spotlighting institutional neglect in addressing harassment complaints. The investigation won top accolades from Investigative Reporters & Editors and contributed to Julie Jargon's receipt of the Livingston Award for Young Journalists.

"Fallout," SF Weekly, May 2, 2001

Lisa Davis earned national recognition for her coverage of radioactive contamination mismanagement at Hunter's Point Naval Shipyard—a location planned for redevelopment into a San Francisco neighborhood. The report highlighted significant public health concerns linked to Cold War-era nuclear activities.

Satire and parody

NTI/VVM outlets gained a reputation for daring pranks and satirical content, encouraged by founder Michael Lacey who cited Mad magazine as creative inspiration. In 1990, David Koen, music editor at New Times, impersonated a reporter to trick legislator Jan Brewer into unwittingly reciting explicit lyrics during a phone call. These recordings were played publicly at the state capitol, provoking controversy and criticism from local media. Brewer later rose to become Arizona’s Governor, attracting national attention.

In 2003, Mike Seely of the Riverfront Times lampooned basketball enthusiasm through "Shebron's Truth," a fictional narrative about a young female basketball star. Despite incorporating actual scout comments, the story faced backlash for presenting fabricated material as a cover feature, igniting debates over journalistic integrity.

One of the company’s most prominent satires appeared in the Dallas Observer in 1999 with "Stop the Madness," which parodied the incarceration of a child over a Halloween essay by exaggerating absurd actions against a six-year-old authoring a book report. The article provoked libel lawsuits from officials but was ultimately defended by the Texas Supreme Court in 2004 as unmistakable satire. This landmark ruling highlighted NTI/VVM’s audacious editorial approach and its influence on media law precedents.