Azi Paybarah
Encyclopedia
Azi Paybarah is a New York-based journalist who focuses on local politics. He worked as a reporter for the New York Press
, the Queens Tribune
and the New York Sun
. In February 2011, Paybarah returned to the New York Observer
he had left only months earlier, where he wrote for the daily blog, The Politicker. In September 2011 he joined the online news publication Capital as senior writer. Paybarah, who is a registered Republican
, also hosts a political blog on the website of the local NPR station, WNYC
.
Paybarah attended the University at Albany, and spent the next few years in the state capital working on campaigns prior to moving back to New York City.
He is a proponent of a pro-active approach to journalism. At times he will inform political colleagues or rivals of a controversial statement another politician has made to provoke a reaction. An example of this was when he informed others of congressional candidate David Weprin
's statements in an interview for Vosizneias
, one of the largest Orthodox Jewish websites in the United States, regarding the marriage equality law
which allows gay and lesbian marriages in New York State.
In May 2009, Paybarah made headlines for being called “a disgrace” by New York mayor Michael Bloomberg
for asking about the mayor's rationale for running for a third term. Tough later in his campaign, Bloomberg described Paybarah as “brilliant”, according to the New York Times.
New York Press
New York Press was a free alternative weekly in New York City, that was published from 1988 to 2011. During its lifetime, it was the main competitor to the Village Voice...
, the Queens Tribune
Queens Tribune
The Queens Tribune is a free weekly newspaper founded as the monthly Flushing Tribune in February 1970 by Gary Ackerman. It is based in Whitestone, Queens. The paper's main offices moved to Whitestone from Fresh Meadows, Queens in November, 2010. The Tribune is a member of the New York Press...
and the New York Sun
New York Sun
The New York Sun was a weekday daily newspaper published in New York City from 2002 to 2008. When it debuted on April 16, 2002, adopting the name, motto, and masthead of an otherwise unrelated earlier New York paper, The Sun , it became the first general-interest broadsheet newspaper to be started...
. In February 2011, Paybarah returned to the New York Observer
New York Observer
The New York Observer is a weekly newspaper first published in New York City on September 22, 1987, by Arthur L. Carter, a very successful former investment banker with publishing interests. The Observer focuses on the city's culture, real estate, the media, politics and the entertainment and...
he had left only months earlier, where he wrote for the daily blog, The Politicker. In September 2011 he joined the online news publication Capital as senior writer. Paybarah, who is a registered Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, also hosts a political blog on the website of the local NPR station, WNYC
WNYC
WNYC is a set of call letters shared by a pair of co-owned, non-profit, public radio stations located in New York City.WNYC broadcasts on the AM band at 820 kHz, and WNYC-FM is at 93.9 MHz. Both stations are members of National Public Radio and carry distinct, but similar news/talk programs...
.
Paybarah attended the University at Albany, and spent the next few years in the state capital working on campaigns prior to moving back to New York City.
He is a proponent of a pro-active approach to journalism. At times he will inform political colleagues or rivals of a controversial statement another politician has made to provoke a reaction. An example of this was when he informed others of congressional candidate David Weprin
David Weprin
David I. Weprin is a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly, representing District 24 in Queens since 2010. He was previously a member of the New York City Council, representing district 23...
's statements in an interview for Vosizneias
Vosizneias
Vos Iz Neias? is an online news site that caters to the Orthodox Jewish and Hasidic world in the United States. Its coverage is primarily focused on the New York metropolitan area and Israel...
, one of the largest Orthodox Jewish websites in the United States, regarding the marriage equality law
Same-sex marriage in the United States
The federal government does not recognize same-sex marriage in the United States, but such marriages are recognized by some individual states. The lack of federal recognition was codified in 1996 by the Defense of Marriage Act, before Massachusetts became the first state to grant marriage licenses...
which allows gay and lesbian marriages in New York State.
In May 2009, Paybarah made headlines for being called “a disgrace” by New York mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
for asking about the mayor's rationale for running for a third term. Tough later in his campaign, Bloomberg described Paybarah as “brilliant”, according to the New York Times.