You’ve probably scrolled past it a thousand times. You’re reading a feature about a disgraced socialite or a review of a restaurant that costs more than your rent, and there it is—a wall of names at the bottom or tucked away in the "About" section. The New York magazine masthead isn’t just a list of people who get paid to write. Honestly, it’s a power map of Manhattan’s intellectual elite. It tells you who has the ear of the city and, by extension, the culture at large.
It's crowded. It’s chaotic. It’s prestigious.
If you want to understand how a single publication manages to define the "vibe" of New York City while being owned by a massive conglomerate like Vox Media, you have to look at the hierarchy. The names on that masthead change more often than you’d think, yet the DNA of the magazine stays remarkably consistent. It’s a mix of legacy editors who have been there since the Bloomberg era and hungry young writers who grew up on Twitter (now X).
The Top of the Pyramid: The Decision Makers
At the very top of the New York magazine masthead, things are surprisingly stable. David Haskell is the Editor-in-Chief. He took over from the legendary Adam Moss in 2019. Now, replacing Moss was no small feat. Moss was the guy who basically invented the modern magazine format—the "Approval Matrix," the high-low brow split, the visual density. Haskell had to take that legacy and move it into a world where print is a luxury and digital is the oxygen.
He doesn't do it alone. You’ve got names like Genevieve Smith (Executive Editor) and others who handle the day-to-day grind of turning a million ideas into a cohesive weekly issue. These are the people who decide if a 10,000-word piece on a "nepo baby" is worth the cover or if they should pivot to a hard-hitting political expose on the Mayor's latest scandal.
It’s about balance. If the masthead leans too hard into lifestyle, they lose their edge. If they go too heavy on politics, they lose the "fun" that makes New York, well, New York.
Why the "Strategy" and "Vulture" Matter More Than You Think
A lot of people don’t realize that the New York magazine masthead is actually a giant umbrella. It’s not just one magazine anymore. You have The Cut, Vulture, The Strategist, Intelligencer, and Curbed. Each of these verticals has its own mini-masthead with its own editors-in-chief.
Take The Cut. Under the leadership of Lindsay Peoples, it has become a powerhouse for culture and fashion that often outshines the "main" magazine in terms of social media engagement. When you see a name on the masthead under The Cut, you’re looking at someone who is likely shaping the national conversation on feminism, work culture, and style.
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Vulture is another beast entirely. Their editors, like Neil Janowitz, oversee a team that treats television and movies with the same intellectual rigor that The New Yorker treats poetry. It’s that "serious about silly things" energy that keeps the brand relevant. If a critic on the Vulture masthead hates a show, people in Hollywood actually sweat.
The Role of the "Contributing Editor"
This is where the New York magazine masthead gets a bit blurry for outsiders. You’ll see a section for "Contributing Editors." These aren't people in the office every day. They don't have a desk in the Vox Media building at 85 Broad Street.
They are the heavy hitters.
Think of people like Rebecca Traister. She is arguably one of the most important political writers of our time. Her name on the masthead gives the magazine instant credibility. She might only write a few times a year, but when she does, it’s a "must-read" event. Then you have the critics. Jerry Saltz, the senior art critic, is a literal Pulitzer Prize winner. Having a Pulitzer winner on your masthead is like having a Ferrari in the garage—you might not drive it to the grocery store every day, but everyone knows it's there.
It’s a status thing. For a writer, being added to this list is a "you've made it" moment. It's the literary equivalent of getting a key to a private club.
The Hidden Labor: Fact-Checkers and Copy Editors
We usually only talk about the writers with the big bylines. The ones who get the book deals. But if you actually read the New York magazine masthead, you’ll see dozens of names under "Research" and "Copy."
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These people are the unsung heroes. New York Magazine is famous for its accuracy and its specific, punchy voice. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens because a fact-checker spent four hours on the phone verifying the exact shade of blue on a socialite's dress or the specific wording of a 1974 city ordinance.
In an era of "fake news" and rapid-fire AI content, these roles are actually becoming more prominent on the masthead, not less. They are the gatekeepers. If the magazine loses its reputation for being right, the whole house of cards falls down.
How Vox Media Changed the Landscape
When Vox Media bought New York Media in 2019, everyone freaked out. People thought the New York magazine masthead would be gutted. They feared it would become a "content farm."
That didn't really happen.
Instead, the masthead expanded. The integration allowed the magazine to beef up its tech and data capabilities. You started seeing more overlap between the "legacy" print folks and the "digital-native" Vox people. It was a culture clash at first—Upper West Side sensibilities meeting Silicon Alley efficiency—but it worked. The current masthead reflects a publication that is actually making money, which is a rarity in the world of high-end journalism.
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How to Use This Information
If you’re a PR professional, a writer, or just a super-fan of the brand, the New York magazine masthead is your tactical manual. Don't pitch a story about a new gadget to the political editors. Don't send a fashion tip to the "Intelligencer" team.
- Look for the "Features" editors if you have a long-form, narrative story that feels like a cover shot.
- Target the "Section" editors for smaller, more niche pieces in The Cut or Curbed.
- Follow the "Staff Writers" on social media. They often tweet when they are looking for specific sources or experts for upcoming pieces.
The masthead is public for a reason. It’s an invitation to engage with the people who are building the cultural narrative of the city.
Actionable Insights for Navigating the Masthead
If you want to get the most out of your relationship with this publication, stop looking at it as a static list and start seeing it as a living document.
- Track Promotions: When an Associate Editor moves up to Senior Editor, their "beat" or area of focus usually expands. This is the best time to introduce yourself or your ideas.
- Identify the "Columns": The masthead lists who handles specific columns like "The Look" or "The Underground Gourmet." These are the most consistent parts of the magazine and have the most specific requirements.
- Check the Art Department: Don't overlook the "Design" and "Photo" sections of the New York magazine masthead. New York is a visual-first magazine. If you have a story that is visually stunning, the photo editors are often your best "in."
- Read the "About Us" Page Regularly: In the digital age, mastheads are updated in real-time. A name that was there in June might be gone by July.
Ultimately, the masthead is a testament to the fact that great journalism is a team sport. It takes hundreds of people—from the EIC to the junior web producer—to make a magazine that people actually want to pay for in 2026. Next time you finish a 5,000-word deep dive into the latest Brooklyn drama, take a second to look at the names at the bottom. They’re the ones making it happen.