The Staff at amNewYork
Pete Catapano, executive editor
I came on board at amNewYork in October 2003 to help launch a free start-up daily that many thought wouldn’t survive in NYC. I’m relieved that the “experts” -- friends, former teachers, peers, relatives and pets -- were wrong.
Born in Queens, I’ve worked in journalism since I was 18, starting at college papers and moving to community papers and wire services. I edited a Brooklyn weekly for six years, I did some hard time at the AP sports department — the “highlight” being my repeated phone calls before sunrise to South Africa for golf results that only the most dedicated of fans were waiting for.
What makes amNewYork fun for me and our readers is that you’ll never know how your day is going to go. Very few jobs allow you to focus your energy on state politics, the city’s top sangria spots and Snooki all in the same day. My career goal is to eventually become Batman.
Max J. Dickstein, news editor/sports editor
I joined amNewYork as sports editor in 2007. Because I'm a Sacramento, Calif., native, I work every day to fill the gaps in my New York sports knowledge. Those gaps tend to be less glaring when it comes to the NBA and the U.S. Open. I've lived in the city since 1997, when I moved here to attend Columbia. I live in Brooklyn and bike to work over the Williamsburg Bridge.
Scott A. Rosenberg, entertainment editor/designer
As I write this biography of myself, I'm holding a corn-cob pipe in my teeth that another editor got in with a press kit. I'll never use it to smoke, but I think it makes me look distinguished.
I'm currently assembling pmNY, which is amNewYork's daily entertainment section. I cover television, music, film, books and those kinds of mediums. I also do some writing — these days it seems mostly to be with a focus on television, though I'm known to dabble in topics such as comic books, wrestling and music. I've interviewed a lot of famous people and if you find me in person somehow, I'll tell you who was the dumbest.
Before returning to my home state of New York a few years back (I grew up on the mean streets of Westchester), I was lurking the streets our nation's capitol, working for a couple of papers down there and colleging, which is a new verb I created for this bio, meaning going to college. I launched the print edition of The Onion in D.C. with another fellow. This always seems to impress people, but it's not as glamorous as it sounds. Wait, it doesn't sound glamorous at all, does it?
When I'm not in the office, I'm typically found perusing the aisles at The Strand looking to add more books to my already impressive personal library. If you see me there, please don't talk to me, I'm busy browsing. Those books aren't going to buy themselves. I'm also known for my skills as a ringer at karaoke, and I dare you to challenge me to a showdown of Billy Joel's "Only the Good Die Young," because I will destroy you.
My dream jobs: writing Batman comics, being a voice actor in a cartoon, a stand-up comedian or a combination of all three in some kind of uber-nerd gig.
I've named my beard the Zach Galifi-knock-off, which is still copyright pending.
Tim Herrera, reporter & social media editor
I joined amNewYork in the fall of 2010 after interning here for the summer. I like to write the news story and the tweet, and I do the online thing.
Colorado native, came here for school at NYU, and now I can't imagine leaving.
Sheila Anne Feeney, reporter
I cover everything from anti-Muslim bias to the push for medical marijuana.
A veteran of the staffs of The Seattle Times, The New York Daily News and Quick & Simple (a now-defunct Hearst publication), I also served as associate editor for Represent: The Voice of Youth in Care. I’ve also freelanced for The Los Angeles Times and oodles of magazines, books, and websites. Before joining amNY, I did a stint as a labor services representative for the New York State Department of Labor, where I counseled a clown doctor, a professional patient, a lifeguard who desired a position that did not involve looking at cellulite or children, and a staggering number of unemployed journalists.
I have a special interest in solution-oriented, social justice journalism and certifications in rape crisis counseling, scuba diving and CPR-AED administration. I spend an indefensible amount of salsa dancing and always, always run to make the light.
Graham Wood, associate editor
I'm a jack of all trades: I edit local and business news, design pages and write features for the news, business and real estate sections of amNewYork. I also put together the funny musings, photos and videos for the Play page. I probably think I'm funnier than you do. (LOL.)
I previously worked at amNewYork's rival, Metro (I swear I like amNY better), where I was a political writer and commentator and earned the distinction of being the staffer to generate the most hate mail from readers. My mom is very proud.
Before that, I was a page designer at the Staten Island Advance, where I learned first-hand why other newspapers in the city ignore the borough. I still live on Staten Island, but don't tell anyone. I have a reputation to protect.
I'm originally from Louisville, Ky., so I know that, in fact, there is a world outside of Manhattan. It's just not that fun — that's why I'm here.
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Marc Beja, reporter
I bet I’m one of the only reporters in the city with two music degrees.
I joined amNewYork in April 2011 while I was completing a master’s degree in voice (my bachelor’s is in music education and journalism), and have been covering transit and breaking news since. I’ve previously worked for the AP’s NYC desk, Newsday, The Chronicle of Higher Education and NYU’s student paper, Washington Square News.
A native New Yorker, I love pizza, cookies and the often-depressing New York Mets.
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Ivan Pereira, reporter
I am the reporter for amNewYork covering City Hall and other breaking news.
I spent four years covering southeast Queens for the TimesLedger Newspapers, covering everything from murders, politics and a cat that got lost at JFK; sadly little Jack did not make it. I freelanced for The New York Times covering breaking news in the metro area before joining amNewYork.
I'm a lifelong New Yorker who enjoys kicking back with a good comic book, movie, video game and an occasional few laps in a pool.
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Robert Levin, associate editor/entertainment reporter
I'm technically amNewYork's newest employee, having joined the staff in February 2012, but I've been associated with the paper in one capacity or another since I came on board as an intern in January 2007. I spent three semesters interning here and three-and-a-half years as a freelance editor and writer. Now, I'm a news editor, an entertainment reporter and our film critic. Given that amNY is only eight-and-a-half, I'm practically a lifer.
A movie-and-sports buff, I can usually be found watching and/or writing about one or the other. I've covered a wide range of arts beyond film, though, and I've done my share of news and political writing too. I've written for The Atlantic, The Star-Ledger and Backstage, among other publications.
I'm a native of St. Louis, born and raised mere miles from the west bank of the Mississippi River. But I'm the son of New Yorkers and I've always known that I'd some day end up in NYC. I've lived in Manhattan since I started NYU in 2004, and I don't plan on leaving. Ok, maybe I'll try Brooklyn.
Julie Gordon, style/entertainment editor
I cover fashion and entertainment for amNewYork, which has led me to report from New York Fashion Week, MAGIC, the Sundance Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival, among other events.
Before coming to amNewYork in 2007, I worked as a reporter at BusinessWeek.com, where I covered a range of topics, from business schools to retail to style, and produced the site's most clicked-on fashion story to date — a piece on interview dress.
I was born in Manhattan, moved from Brooklyn to New Jersey when I was six and then back to Manhattan after college. I graduated from The George Washington University, where my work at the student paper, The Hatchet, sparked my interest in journalism.
When I'm not working, I might be at the theater -- stage or screen. In spring 2010, I co-produced John Osborne's play "Look Back in Anger" for Clout in the Mug Productions.
Perrie Samotin, style/Buzz/special sections editor
Born and raised in NYC, I'm not exclusionary when it comes to fashion, which is what I mainly cover for amNewYork.
Thrift stores, small stores, big stores, web sites — I trend to compulsively scour them all because I believe personal style trumps slave-to-fashion style.
When I'm not hunting for interesting gear, I'm often reading, trolling hundreds of style blogs daily, watching old episodes of "Twin Peaks" and thinking about what color I want to make my hair.
