The New York Sun
The New York Sun is an American conservative news website and former newspaper based in Manhattan, New York.[1] From 2009 to 2021 it operated as an (occasional and erratic) online-only publisher of political and economic opinion pieces, as well as occasional arts content. Dovid Efune acquired the paper in November 2021, and it began full-time online publication in 2022.[2][1]
For the newspaper that ran from 1833 to 1950, see The Sun (New York City).Type
Daily newspaper (2002–2008)
Online newspaper (since 2022)
Broadsheet (2002–2008)
Website (since 2022)
ONE SL LLC
Dovid Efune
April 16, 2002
September 30, 2008 (print)
2022
From 2002 to 2008, The Sun was a printed daily newspaper distributed in New York City.[3][4] It debuted on April 16, 2002, claiming descent from, and adopting the name, motto, and masthead of the earlier New York paper The Sun (1833–1950).[5] It became the first general-interest broadsheet newspaper to be started in New York City in several decades.
On November 2, 2021, The New York Sun was acquired by Dovid Efune, former CEO and editor-in-chief of the Algemeiner Journal. Efune confirmed Seth Lipsky in the position of editor-in-chief.[2] Following Efune's acquisition, The New York Sun resumed full-time online reporting in 2022, focusing on a digital-first strategy.[1]
History[edit]
2001–2008[edit]
The relaunched Sun was founded by a group of investors including publishing magnate Conrad Black. The goal was to provide an alternative to The New York Times, featuring front-page news about local and state events, in contrast to the emphasis on national and international news by the Times. The Sun began business operations, prior to first publication, in October 2001.[6]
The newspaper's president and editor-in-chief was Seth Lipsky, former editor of The Jewish Daily Forward. Managing editor Ira Stoll also served as company vice-president. Stoll had been a longtime critic of The New York Times in his media watchdog blog smartertimes.com.[7] When smartertimes.com became defunct, its Web traffic was redirected to The Sun web site.
Published from the Cary Building in Lower Manhattan, it ceased print publication on September 30, 2008.[8] When asked why, Lipsky said, "we needed additional funds. . . . [T]he 2008 financial collapse was sweeping the world, and the Internet was emerging as a challenge to traditional newspapering."[9][10]
The paper's motto, which it shared with its predecessor and namesake, was "It Shines For All".
2009–2021[edit]
Its web site resumed activity on April 28, 2009,[11]
Despite the closure of the newspaper, The New York Sun website renewed activity on April 28, 2009,[11][12] prompting some observers to consider the possible implications.[11][13][14] Michael Calderone of Politico quoted Lipsky as saying not to read too much into the initial items since "...a business plan for the site is still in formation," and "... these are just some very, very early bulbs of spring (or late winter)."[14] It only contained a small subset of the original content of the paper, mostly editorials at irregular intervals,[15] op-ed commentaries[16] and frequent contributions from economist and noted television commentator Lawrence Kudlow. In addition, commentaries on the arts have been published.
Online relaunch, 2021[edit]
On November 2, 2021, The New York Sun was acquired by Dovid Efune, former CEO and editor-in-chief of the Algemeiner Journal. Efune confirmed Seth Lipsky in the position of editor-in-chief.[2] Following Efune's acquisition, The New York Sun resumed full-time online reporting in 2022, focusing on a digital-first strategy.[1]
Features, 2001–2008[edit]
The Sun received critical praise for its sports section, writers for which included Steven Goldman, Thomas Hauser, Sean Lahman, Tim Marchman, and John Hollinger. Its crossword puzzle, edited by Peter Gordon, was called one of the two best in the United States.[29] It also published the first regular wine column in a New York newspaper, "Along the Wine Trail", written by G. Selmer Fougner.[30]
In its first edition, the paper carried the solution to the last crossword puzzle of the earlier Sun published in 1950.[9]
Controversies[edit]
Allegations were published in the paper's January 9, 2008 issue, written by contributing editor Daniel Johnson about then-candidate Barack Obama and Kenya's candidate (and subsequent Prime Minister) Raila Odinga, based on what was later described as "a patently fallacious story ... or at the very least to shirk their responsibility to the truth."[42][43]
The Sun was listed as a three-time victim of plagiarism when The News-Sentinel announced March 1, 2008, that "20 of 38 guest columns ... contributed ... since 2000" by Bush White House staffer Timothy Goeglein were subsequently discovered to have been plagiarized; three were attributed to original articles in The Sun.[44] Goeglein resigned.[45]
