ABOUT NEW YORK MAGAZIN

Grigore L. Culian

I started to practice (or I should say to learn) journalism in 1994, when I was hired as a "handy man" by the late Catalina Ligi, who was the owner of "Micro Magazin" at that time. Micro Magazin was the first weekly publication in the Romanian language in New York, and was founded by Ms. Ligi's father, the late Marius Ligi. During the years I spent at Micro Magazin, I helped with whatever needed to be done, including: proof-reading, corrections, translations in English and Romanian, reporting, photographer and distribution of the newspaper. I enjoyed the work of a journalism, especially that I had all the support from my former supervisor, a woman with a lot of common sense, and a big heart, who helped me tremendously, and my daughter Andreea as well, who was only 17 years old and worked with us at Micro Magazin during her school holidays.

Unfortunately, three years later, Catalina Ligi passed away prematurely, at 46 years old, in California, where she had recently relocated. After her death, the much loved and appreciated newspaper simply disappeared, and was ultimately taken over (in conditions that were more than mysterious) by Marius Badea, a dentist based in California, who changed the name to "Meridianul Românesc." 

It is needless to say that my daughter and I we were devastated at this personal loss. Two months after Ms. Ligi's death, my daughter suggested that I should create my own newspaper, as a way to continue to honor the great friendship, honesty, dedication and passion we had learned from this father-daughter relationship. At first I laughed, but not her. She was a fresh student at New York University, and she insisted and promised to help me in this new venture. Even though I didn't have any financial means to purchase the necessary equipment to publish a newspaper, I managed to buy a computer, a printer and a fax with my wife's credit card, who has always been by my side through this extraordinary adventure.

You see, I believe in signs (which, in my opinion, are not recognized by everyone), and the signs I followed at that time were many: the death of Ms. Catalina Ligi, the disappearance of the "Micro Magazin" newspaper (where I had worked with so much dedication and passion), and my daughter's suggestion, were only among a few. Then there was something else that happened: during the Holy Mass for Easter in that year, 1997, I met at the "Saint Nicholas" Church in Queens, New York, Mr. Mircea M. Ionescu, the renowned journalist, writer and sports commentator, who had recently decided to return to Romania, leaving behind him an excellent sports newspaper called "Lumea Sporturilor" ("The World of Sports"), which he founded with great passion and worked tirelessly to ensure its success. It was that night when Mircea proposed to work together, meaning, to introduce "Lumea Sporturilor" as a supplement of "New York Magazin." I couldn't refuse such an offer from a professional of his calibre, especially that we sincerely sympathized each other, and I had just published three issues of my newspaper. And so began my partnership with the one person that I was about to learn the most from.

Shortly after launching this new venture, I decided to take a publishing management course offered by the renowned newspaper "The New York Times." I learned valuable management skills, which allowed me to understand the publishing business and become more efficient with my own newspaper. As far as my former profession is concerned, that of a musician, there is a sign here as well or a link: both professions require talent, imagination and creativity - I will leave it up to the others to appreciate this - but I always worked unrelentlessly, in music and in journalism equally. 

As proof, I can tell you that I have published this newspaper by myself, for the past three years. In the meantime, my daughter finished her studies and chose a career path in a different field. Unfortunately, I cannot do it all alone. There are enough projects, but the financial pressure obligates me to postpone them. I say financial pressure because the newspaper does not have "sponsors", even though there were solicitations from the native country to buy my conscience. I sent them all for a walk! With or without money, I don't make heros out of criminals or vice versa! That's why I work alone, assuming the role of Editor and Manager and Proof-reader and Distributor. I don't choose to do this out of greed, but rather to keep the newspaper "above the water." I benefit greatly from the support of editorialists such as Liviu Cangeopol and Gabriel Pleşea (from exile) or Valerian Stan (from Romania), rough feathers, people of high integrity and morals, and a strong backbone. Not to mention Constantin Dumitru with his excellent supplement "Top Business", made in Bucharest, and as I call it "Romania seen from... Romania".

I believe that this newspaper's strong suit is its verticality. This publication has a critical political editorial line and extremely harsh position against communism and neo-communism.

Grigore L. Culian
Editor, New York Magazin