# Indy Week

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Newspaper in Durham, North Carolina

This article is about the North Carolina newspaper. For the Australian newspaper, see [The Independent Weekly](/source/The_Independent_Weekly).

Indy Week Independent Weekly stand in coffee shop on Hillsborough St, Raleigh NC Type Alternative weekly Format Tabloid Owner(s) ZM INDY, Inc. Publisher John Hurld Founded April 1983 Language English Headquarters P.O. Box 1772 Durham, NC 27702 United States Circulation 25,000 (as of 2019) ISSN 0737-8254 Website indyweek.com

***Indy Week***, formerly known as the ***Independent Weekly*** and originally the ***North Carolina Independent***, is a [tabloid](/source/Tabloid_(newspaper_format))-format [alternative weekly](/source/Alternative_weekly) newspaper published in [Durham, North Carolina](/source/Durham%2C_North_Carolina), United States, and distributed throughout the [Research Triangle](/source/Research_Triangle) area ([Raleigh](/source/Raleigh%2C_North_Carolina), [Durham](/source/Durham%2C_North_Carolina), [Chapel Hill](/source/Chapel_Hill%2C_North_Carolina), and [Cary](/source/Cary%2C_North_Carolina)) and counties ([Wake County](/source/Wake_County%2C_North_Carolina), [Durham County](/source/Durham_County%2C_North_Carolina), [Orange County](/source/Orange_County%2C_North_Carolina), and [Chatham County](/source/Chatham_County%2C_North_Carolina)). Its first issue was published in April 1983.

*Indy Week* is a member of the [Association of Alternative Newsmedia](/source/Association_of_Alternative_Newsmedia)[1] and has a [progressive](/source/Progressivism), [liberal](/source/Liberalism) political perspective. The *[Columbia Journalism Review](/source/Columbia_Journalism_Review)* has cited the newspaper for its "spine of steel."[2] The print edition is published on Wednesdays.[1]

## History

The paper was founded in 1983 by [Steve Schewel](/source/Steve_Schewel) and was originally published as the ***North Carolina Independent*** and was bi-weekly. Its publisher was **Carolina Independent Publications, Inc.**[3] It was renamed the *Independent* effective March 1985.[3] In April 1988 the *Independent* published endorsements of state political candidates for the upcoming [Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States))'s primary election. The paper admonished its readers not to vote for state senator [Harold Hardison](/source/Harold_Hardison) and in response a member of Hardison's campaign organization collected approximately 7,000 copies of the paper from newsstands in downtown Raleigh and dumped them in the trash.[4] The *Independent* identified the person responsible and reported the story in its next edition. The story was reported by media across North Carolina, raising the newspaper's public profile.[5] In 1989, publication was changed to weekly, and the name altered to the ***Independent Weekly***.[3]

In September 2002, Carolina Independent Publications acquired the area's other major weekly, the ***Spectator***, from [Creative Loafing Inc.](/source/Creative_Loafing)[3] Founded in 1978 by [Godfrey Cheshire](/source/Godfrey_Cheshire) and others in [Raleigh](/source/Raleigh%2C_North_Carolina),[6] the *Spectator* had been owned by Creative Loafing since 1997 and was well known for its coverage of [the arts](/source/The_arts); the name lived on as the name of the *Independent's* calendar of events.[7]

In 2010, the *Independent* presented the inaugural [Hopscotch Music Festival](/source/Hopscotch_Music_Festival) in downtown [Raleigh](/source/Raleigh%2C_North_Carolina). The three-day annual event happens in September and features local, national and international bands.

On September 27, 2012, the *Independent Weekly* was purchased by ZM INDY, Inc., whose owners, [Mark Zusman](/source/Mark_Zusman) and Richard Meeker, also own *[Willamette Week](/source/Willamette_Week)*.[8] The name of the newspaper and website was changed to *Indy Week*.[9]

On June 11, 2020, Jeffrey Billman was fired from his position as Editor. The stated reason was that he had failed to follow up on a sexual misconduct tip regarding a local restaurant that had been brought to his attention in May 2019. Possibly prompting the dismissal, the edit and design staff released a letter stating their unwillingness to work for Billman going forward.[10] Jane Porter started as Editor-in-Chief in January 2021.

In 2023, the newspaper's owners entered a contract with The Assembly, a two-year-old digital newsmagazine focused on North Carolina, to help manage the Indy Week's business operations, with the option of acquiring it in the future.[11]

## Awards

The paper's reporters have won several major awards, including the George Polk Award,[12] the Investigative Reporters and Editors Award (finalist),[13] the Green Eyeshade Award for the South's best journalism (grand prize, 1993; second place, 2004, 2005 & 2019),[14][15][16] the *[Baltimore Sun](/source/Baltimore_Sun)*'s H.L. Mencken Writing Award,[17] and the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism.[18]

## See also

- The *[Santa Fe Reporter](/source/Santa_Fe_Reporter)*, also published by Richard Meeker and [Mark Zusman](/source/Mark_Zusman)

- *[Willamette Week](/source/Willamette_Week)* (Willamette, OR), also published by Meeker & Zusman.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-AAN_overview_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-AAN_overview_1-1) ["Newsweekly Directory: Independent Weekly (NC)"](http://www.altweeklies.com/aan/independent-weekly-nc/Company?oid=41). [Association of Alternative Newsmedia](/source/Association_of_Alternative_Newsmedia). Retrieved November 18, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Schoonmaker, Mary Ellen (November 1987). ["Has the alternative press gone yuppie?"](http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ufh&AN=11880278&site=ehost-live&scope=site). *Columbia Journalism Review*. **26**: 60–64 – via EBSCOhost.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-UNC_library_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-UNC_library_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-UNC_library_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-UNC_library_3-3) ["Collection Number 05319: Independent Weekly Records, 1982-2004"](http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/i/Independent_Weekly.html). *Louis Round Wilson Special Collections Library*. [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill](/source/University_of_North_Carolina_at_Chapel_Hill). Retrieved November 18, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMilstein19888_4-0)** [Milstein 1988](#CITEREFMilstein1988), p. 8.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMilstein19889_5-0)** [Milstein 1988](#CITEREFMilstein1988), p. 9.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Ebert_6-0)** ["Godfrey Cheshire Biography & Movie Reviews"](http://www.rogerebert.com/contributors/godfrey-cheshire). *[RogerEbert.com](/source/RogerEbert.com)*. Retrieved November 19, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Triangle publications Independent, Spectator to merge"](http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2002/08/12/daily31.html). [Triangle Business Journal](/source/Triangle_Business_Journal).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Why Willamette Week bought Independent Weekly](http://jimromenesko.com/2012/08/24/why-willamette-week-bought-independent-weekly/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-new_name_2012_9-0)** Meeker, Richard; Harper, Susan (October 3, 2012). ["Welcome to the new Indy Week and indyweek.com"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121028194435/http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/welcome-to-the-new-indy-week-and-indyweekcom/Content?oid=3162185). *Independent Weekly/Indy Week*. Archived from [the original](http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/welcome-to-the-new-indy-week-and-indyweekcom/Content?oid=3162185) on October 28, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["A letter from @indyweek staff"](https://twitter.com/leightauss/status/1270834401740496902). *Twitter*. Retrieved 2020-06-17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Eanes, Zachery (May 4, 2023). ["The Assembly marks large partnership with Indy Week"](https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2023/05/04/the-assembly-is-acquiring-indy-week). *Axios*. Retrieved 2024-05-30.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Past Winners \[of the George Polk Awards, 1990\] | LIU"](http://liu.edu/George-Polk-Awards/Past-Winners#1990). *liu.edu*. Retrieved 2019-01-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["1998 IRE Award winners"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190126001603/https://www.ire.org/awards/ire-awards/winners/1998-ire-award-winners). *IRE*. Archived from [the original](https://www.ire.org/awards/ire-awards/winners/1998-ire-award-winners) on 2019-01-26. Retrieved 2019-01-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Three Times Publishing journalists win awards"](https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1993/03/22/three-times-publishing-journalists-win-awards/). *Tampa Bay Times*. Retrieved 2024-05-30.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["SPJ Announces the 2004 Green Eyeshade Award Recipients"](https://www.spj.org/news.asp?ref=426). *www.spj.org*. Retrieved 2019-01-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["SPJ Announces the 2005 Green Eyeshade Award Recipients"](https://www.spj.org/news.asp?ref=573). *www.spj.org*. Retrieved 2019-01-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Sun, Baltimore (November 14, 1992). ["THE H.L. Mencken Writing Award this year \[1992\]"](https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1992-11-21-1992326032-story.html). *baltimoresun.com*. Retrieved 2019-01-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Hart, Richard (2007-06-20). ["Real winners"](https://indyweek.com/news/real-winners/). *INDY Week*. Retrieved 2019-01-25.

## Works cited

- Milstein, Michael (July 1988). "The Silver Volvo Newspaper Heist". *Columbia Journalism Review*. **27** (2): 8–10.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.indyweek.com)

v t e Greater Durham–Chapel Hill metropolitan region (Durham MSA, part of the Research Triangle) Principal cities Durham Chapel Hill Other significant cities Carrboro Hillsborough Pittsboro Roxboro Siler City Counties Chatham Durham Orange Person Major universities Duke University North Carolina Central University University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Transportation Raleigh–Durham International Airport I-40 I-85 I-540 I-885 US 15 US 64 US 70 US 501 NC 147 NC 54 Chapel Hill Transit GoDurham GoTriangle Newspapers The Herald-Sun The Daily Tar Heel Indy Week The News & Observer The Courier Times Miscellaneous Research Triangle Park Triangle J Council of Governments

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