Almost four years have passed since Hell Gate first launched, and thanks to you, dear reader, our worker-owned news outlet is continually growing to cover the vastness of New York City through engaging reportage, correct blog posts, exhaustive investigations, incisive podcasting, and loads of fun events. To that end, we're excited to announce that, once again, we are expanding our operation: Please welcome Hell Gate’s newest editor, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd!
Julianne has spent the last 25 years covering culture, politics, and the general fabric of New York. A co-founder of the music publication Hearing Things and a member of the Flaming Hydra collective, she's deep in the worker-owned co-op sphere. She's also been the top editor at both Jezebel and the Fader, and has published writing in outlets like the Guardian, Dwell, Another Man, Vibe, and a bunch of publications that unfortunately no longer exist. She wrote Bad Bunny's first cover story and has profiled Rosalía for Vogue in multiple countries; she has reported on an Alabama family's effort to obtain a life-saving abortion and investigated the issue of coercive control. And she's spent the last few years writing her forthcoming book on Penguin, "Vaquera," about growing up Mexican American in 1990s Wyoming and the myth of the American West.
Julianne's also been a Hell Gate contributor for the last few years; you might remember her from her profile of NY1 anchor Dean Meminger, her report from the 50th anniversary of Toñita's Caribbean Social Club, or her (controversial?) story on why the new East River Park is good.
An avid reader, lifelong raver, and diehard Knicks fan, she will help to expand our culture coverage as well as shore up Hell Gate's mission to put everybody and their malfeasance on notice. (Also: she's a huge proponent of the dumb blog, so gird yourselves!)
Contact Julianne with tips or tricks at julianne@hellgatenyc.com.
We're able to hire brilliant editors like Julianne thanks to our paying subscribers. Support Hell Gate's local, worker-owned, independent journalism right now.