{{Short description|Newspaper in Detroit, Michigan}} {{Use American English|date=April 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = Detroit Metro Times | logo = Metro Times of Detroit logo.png | image = Metro Times cover about psychedelics from August 8 2018.jpg | caption = AAN award winning cover of the Aug. 8-14, 2018 ''Metro Times'', by Eric Millikin. | type = Alternative weekly | format = | founded = 1980 | ceased_publication = | price = | owners = Big Lou Holdings LLC | publisher = Chris Keating | editor = Lee DeVito | language = | circulation = 50,000 | headquarters = 30 E. Canfield St., Detroit, Michigan 48201 | ISSN = 0746-4045 | oclc = 10024235 | website = [https://www.metrotimes.com/ metrotimes.com] }}
The '''''Detroit Metro Times''''' is a progressive alternative weekly newspaper located in Detroit, Michigan. It is the largest circulating weekly newspaper in the metro Detroit area.
The ''Metro Times'' was an official sponsor of the now-defunct Detroit Festival of the Arts, where one of the stages is named after it.
== History and content == Founded in 1980, the Metro Times since its inception has been supported entirely by advertising and distributed free of charge every Wednesday in newsstands, businesses, and libraries around the city of Detroit and its suburbs. Compared to the two dailies, the ''Detroit Free Press'' and the ''Detroit News'', the ''Metro Times'' has a liberal orientation, like its later competitor ''Real Detroit Weekly''. As of 2014, average circulation for the ''Metro Times'' was 50,000 weekly and it was available at more than 1,200 locations.<ref>{{cite news| date=5 November 2014| title=Metro Times deletes competition in deal with rival alt-weekly| url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140511/NEWS/305119972/metro-times-deletes-competition-in-deal-with-rival-alt-weekly| access-date=2020-06-02| newspaper=Crain's Detroit Business| language=en}}</ref> Average readership is just over 700,000 weekly.<ref>{{cite web| title=Metro Times| url=https://aan.org/member-directory/name/metro-times/| access-date=2020-12-31| website=Association of Alternative Newsmedia| language=en-US}}</ref>
Its annual "Best of Detroit" survey awards local businesses. The categories include "Public Square" (city life); "Spend the Night" (nightlife and bars); "Nutritional Value" (restaurants and food); and "Real Deal" (retail and other stores).<ref>{{cite web| url=http://metrotimes.com/bod/2012| title=Best of Detroit 2012| work=Metro Times}}</ref>
Syndicated alternative comics run by the ''Metro Times'' have in the past included ''Perry Bible Fellowship'', ''This Modern World'', ''Eric Monster Millikin'' and ''Red Meat''. The ''Metro Times'' also prints Dan Savage's ''Savage Love'' sex advice column (which replaced Isadora Alman's ''Ask Isadora'' sex advice column) and Cal Garrison's ''Horoscopes'' (which replaced Rob Brezsny's ''Free Will Astrology''). Starting with the January 19–25 {{Year needed|date=December 2020}} issue, the ''Metro Times'' had its own exclusive crossword, crafted by Brooklyn-based cruciverbalist Ben Tausig, who appears in the documentary ''Wordplay''. Editors cut the crossword in May 2008 to save space.
The paper was founded in 1980 by co-publishers Ron Williams and Laura Markham, with Williams as editor and Markham as business manager.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brody |first=Lisa |date=2019-09-24 |title=Underground papers: through an alternative lens |url=https://www.downtownpublications.com/single-post/2019/09/24/underground-papers-through-an-alternative-lens |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=downtownpublications |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lessenberry |first=Jack |title=...Now for the news |url=https://www.metrotimes.com/news/now-for-the-news-2169607 |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=Detroit Metro Times |language=en}}</ref> In December 2012, Metro Times Editor W. Kim Heron announced his departure. Heron had previously been the paper's managing editor. In March 2013, after three months during which Michael Jackman was interim editor, the publisher named Bryan Gottlieb as Editor-in-Chief.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.altweeklies.com/aan/metro-times-announces-new-editor-in-chief/Article?oid=6956484| title=Metro Times Announces New Editor-in-Chief| date=6 March 2013| website=Association of Alternative Newsweeklies}}</ref>
In 2013, Times-Shamrock Communications sold the newspaper to Euclid Media Group.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeVito |first=Lee |date=December 23, 2013 |title=Metro Times Sold to New Euclid Media Group |url=https://www.metrotimes.com/news/metro-times-sold-to-new-euclid-media-group-2142647 |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=Detroit Metro Times |language=en}}</ref> The company dissolved in August 2023 and the sold to Chris Keating, operating under the name Big Lou Holdings LLC.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=August 10, 2023 |title=The RFT Has a New Owner, and He's Based in St. Louis |url=https://www.riverfronttimes.com/news/the-rft-has-a-new-owner-and-hes-based-in-st-louis-40637841 |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=Riverfront Times |language=en}}</ref>
In April 2014, Valerie Vande Panne, former editor of ''High Times,'' was named editor-in-chief.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://motorcitymuckraker.com/2014/04/22/former-high-times-editor-takes-helm-of-revamped-metro-times-in-detroit/|title=Former High Times editor takes helm of revamped Metro Times in Detroit|first=Steve|last=Neavling|date=22 April 2014|work=Motor City Muckraker}}</ref> In May 2014, the ''Metro Times'' merged with ''Real Detroit Weekly,'' which had been a Detroit-area alternative weekly paper since 1999.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2014/05/05/detroit-metro-times-announces-merger-with-real-detroit-weekly| title=Detroit Metro Times Announces Merger With Real Detroit Weekly| date=5 May 2014| work=Metro Times}}</ref> Dustin Blitchok took over as editor-in-chief in February 2016,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2016/02/15/metro-times-names-dustin-blitchok-as-editor-in-chief| title=Metro Times names Dustin Blitchok editor-in-chief| date=February 15, 2016| work=Metro Times| access-date=March 1, 2017}}</ref> before resigning from the position in November of the same year. Former ''Metro Times'' staff writer and associate editor for ''Hour Detroit'' Lee DeVito was named editor-in-chief following Blitchok's departure.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20161116/NEWS/161119858/metro-times-hires-4th-editor-in-3-years| title=Metro Times hires 4th editor in 3 years| date=November 16, 2016| last1= Walsh| first1= Dustin| newspaper=Crain's Detroit Business| access-date=March 1, 2017}}</ref> Euclid Media Group dissolved in August 2023 and the newspaper was sold to Chris Keating, operating under the name Big Lou Holdings LLC.<ref name=":0" />
==Offices== The headquarters are located in Midtown Detroit.<ref>"[https://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/StaffDirectory/Page Contact MT]". ''Metro Times''. Retrieved on July 26, 2018. "Address - 30 E. Canfield St., Detroit, MI, 48201"</ref> It was previously headquartered in the Detroit Cornice and Slate Company Building in Downtown Detroit.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20110319212631/http://www2.metrotimes.com/about/faqs.asp FAQs]." ''Metro Times''. March 19, 2011. Retrieved on January 1, 2014. "Metro Times 733 St. Antoine Detroit, MI 48226"</ref> The ''Metro Times'' moved to the Cornice and Slate building in the 1990s and building owners constructed a wraparound expansion to give the newspaper additional room.<ref name="modelD">[http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/topten.aspx ''Look Up: Top 10 Downtown Buildings''] ([https://archive.today/20140102010608/http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/topten.aspx Archive]) AIA Detroit, ModelD, November 8, 2005.</ref> In 2013 Blue Cross Blue Shield purchased the Cornice and Slate building, forcing the ''Metro Times'' to move to a leased space in Ferndale.<ref>McGraw, Bill (September 26, 2013). "[http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/6549/adieu_downtown_metro_times_moving_to_ferndale_after_33_years_in_detroit Adieu, Downtown: Metro Times Moving To Ferndale After 33 Years In Detroit]." ([https://archive.today/20140102013611/http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/6549/adieu_downtown_metro_times_moving_to_ferndale_after_33_years_in_detroit%23.UsTCgn3LfK5 Archive]) ''Deadline Detroit Media''. . Retrieved on January 1, 2014.</ref><ref>"[http://metrotimes.com/ Home]." ''Metro Times''. Retrieved on January 1, 2014. "1200 Woodward Heights Blvd, Ferndale, MI 48220".</ref> According to editor-in-chief Lee DeVito, the newspaper intended to eventually return to Detroit.<ref>{{cite news| author=Rahal, Sarah| url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2017/10/24/metro-times-moving-to-detroit/795056001/| title=Detroit Metro Times to move back to Detroit| newspaper=The Detroit News| date=24 October 2017| access-date=2018-07-26}}</ref> In 2018, the ''Metro Times'' returned to Detroit, moving into the Arnold E. Frank Building in Midtown.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.metrotimes.com/news/metro-times-is-returning-to-detroit-with-new-midtown-office-6469722#:~:text=Metro%20Times%20%E2%80%99s%20soon-to-be%20new%20home%2C%20the%20Arnold,Metro%20Times%2C%20the%20move%20marks%20a%20return%20home.| title=Metro Times is returning to Detroit with new Midtown office| last=DeVito| first=Lee| work=Detroit Metro Times| access-date=2018-04-05| language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Detroit Cornice and Slate Company Building.jpg|thumb|center|Detroit Cornice and Slate Company Building, former headquarters]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.metrotimes.com/ Official website]
{{Euclid Media Group}} {{Portal bar|Michigan}}
Category:1980 establishments in Michigan Category:Alternative weekly newspapers published in the United States Category:Newspapers established in 1980 Category:Newspapers published in Detroit Category:Progressivism in the United States