Business Not Quite As Usual : 100 years of 'The New Yorker'

The New Yorker magazine this year marks its 100^th  year in print. The great American literary intuition has for a century now, informed, delighted, amused and inspired its readers with a timeless blend of unmatched long-form journalism, humour, fiction and editorial mastery. There is nothing quite like it.  

The history of The New Yorker is one of thoughtful reinvention; ever changing but ever constant. Since Harrold Ross published the first issue of the magazine on the 21^st of February, 1925 (100 years ago to the day as I write) there has been an organic process of evolution. One which has taken it from a jazz age comic paper; short, snappy and printed in monotone to the bastion of journalistic excellence, fearless creativity and intelligent humour that it is today.

I have in front of me, the 100^th anniversary issue of the magazine (available at W. H. Smiths on Northumberland street, priced at £7.95). It is two or three times the length of a standard issue and contains, among others, the following articles and creative features. ‘Stepping Out’ by Burkhard Bilger on the competitiveness and art of high-school marching bands. ‘Sisterhood’ by Lawrence Wright on female death row inmates in Texas and their relationship with an order of Catholic nuns. A poem: ‘Black Dictionary’ by Jericho Brown and fiction entitled ‘Chuka’ by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. This sprinkled with comics, artwork and beautiful photography. A personal favourite is Jia Tolentino’s ‘Take’ on Joan Didion’s defence of Martha Stewart entitled ‘everywoman.com’ published in The New Yorker 25 years ago.

To commence the centenary celebrations, the magazine is breaking its three oldest rules: Never write about writers, never name editors, never write about the magazine. Rules established by Harrold Ross in 1925 and diligently upheld until now. Jill Lepore has contributed ‘War of Words– editors, writers and the making of a magazine’ to the anniversary issue (pp. 48-62). Lapore has cherrypicked some of the most amusing and most significant differences of opinion which have shaped the course of the publication.      

Events will take place around Manhattan: The New York Public Library will host “A Century of The New Yorker” featuring original manuscripts, correspondence and artworks from the magazine’s history (22/02/25 - 21/02/26). L’Alliance New York will present “Covering The New Yorker”, an exhibition of cover art from the past century (21/01/25 – 30/03/35). Film Forum are throwing a film festival, ‘Tales From The New Yorker’, showing 27 films including ‘Brokeback Mountain’ and ‘Citizen Kane’ (21/02/25 – 06/03/25). Other events can be found at newyorker.com.  

A line of 100th anniversary limited edition merchandise has been created in collaboration with both Timex and J.Crew including: The New Yorker  X  J.Crew graphic T-shirt (£45 at jcrew.com) and The New Yorker Marlin® Hand-Wound Timex watch (£215 at time3x.co.uk).

A subscription to The New Yorker is currently available at $1 per week for the first year of an annual membership. Happy reading.