All Hail Tony!

Tony Ortega, formerly of our own Pitch Weekly, will be the editor in chief of the Village Voice:

Ortega, 43, who started his career with New Times (now Village Voice) Media in 1995 at the Phoenix New Times, will take the reins on Cooper Square later this week, according to Village Voice Media executive editor Michael Lacey.

"It’s an incredible newspaper, an incredible opportunity, and something that I’ve dreamed about for a long time," Ortega said of the Voice editorship. "If you are in the alternative press, and you’re ambitious, that’s always the Mount Everest of the alternative world. I didn’t really think it was attainable, but Mike [Lacey, executive editor] surprised me and said yes."

Tony was a great guy for the bloggers when he was at the Pitch, publishing short snippets from the local blogs and helping elevate stories from blogs into the print media. The Voice is an institution, and I think Tony is a great pick – someone who will keep it edgy and smart without getting bogged down in the institution. Tony appreciates that the alternative media are not just on paper any more, and bring new voices and angles to the flagship of the alternative press.

Congrats, Tony, you deserve it!