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New Yorkers love the Evening Standard
Tom Teodorczuk, in New York16.09.09
It is more normally read in Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square — but now the Evening Standard has conquered Times Square.
Thousands of copies of London's newspaper were handed out to New Yorkers in its most famous square by Mayor Boris Johnson as he banged the drum for the city.
The Mayor declared he was personally delighted to see the Evening Standard being handed out to Big Apple dwellers.
He said: “The publication of the Evening Standard has descended over New York like a thunderclap!”
More pictures: Boris Johnson hands out the Evening Standard in New York
The reception was universally positive. Marie Bryan, who commutes to Manhattan from Guilford, Connecticut, said: “It's great to see all the things that are on in London in the paper.
“I've been on vacation there before but I'll certainly be back again.”
Toni Fioretti, in the city on a trip from Chicago said: “I've never been to London but your mayor seems great.”
New Yorkers took time out to sit in plastic chairs in the middle of Times Square and read the Evening Standard. Mr Johnson declared his stay in New York, which included a New York Fashion Week reception at Asprey and a visit backstage to Billy Elliot to celebrate British success on Broadway, had been a success.
He unveiled new measures to strengthen ties between London and New York after talks with the American city's mayor, Michael Bloomberg.
Mr Johnson and Mr Bloomberg said London and New York have signed a two-year agreement in which the cities will provide each other with outdoor advertising space and collaborate on publicity campaigns.
Mr Johnson said: “We did a deal on tourism and it's very important to bang the drum for London at a time when tourism from America is down 21 per cent.
“We raised the profile of London and stressed to North American business that we remain a very vibrant economy.”
Asked for the highlights of his stay, Mr Johnson said: “There have been many fine moments. I will treasure the argument I had with one of the actresses in Billy Elliot [Hadyn Gwynne] over the accuracy of its representation of 1980s Britain.”
Mr Johnson was keen to stress the industrious nature of his trip: “While the visit was great fun, one of the things about this kind of job is that people think it's a great big junket. You have to work very hard on these trips.”
More pictures: Boris Johnson hands out the Evening Standard in New York
Reader views (7)
New Yorkers would like the Evening Standard.There's something quite comforting reading about violent crime,drugs,stabbings and shootings when it's not happening in your own City.
New York has moved on whilst we're going back.
- Steve, London
Great news our links with the US ever getting stronger. A top mayor and a top paper
- Paul Jardine, Bromley, Kent
Great to see Boris promoting London's quality newspaper across the pond. Unlike his predecessor, Boris stands for fair, unbiased journalism and not the one-sided propaganda that filled Ken Livingstone's The Londoner.
- Sarah, London
Boris Johnson hands out the evening standard in new york!
Surprise! Surprise! The evening standard has been promoting Boris Johnson ever since he arrived on the political scene. Targeting Livingstone with vile lies was par for the course when he was mayor. This the standards idea of balanced reporting.
- James, Manchester England
It looks like Johnson has an interest in promoting the Evening Standard, hence his Us holiday. !
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK
One question: was this funded fully by the Standard themselves? Or was public money used?
- Mark Lee, Vauxhall
Whilst i'm in total agreement with you Boris, i have to say i am very concerned that you allow a GLA member who has not one, nor two or even three jobs, but rather he has 4 jobs! Making him the highest paid GLA member only just after you. Can you explain why at a time of such high unemployment a Tory GLA member from South London should be allowed to insult us all so easily?
- Jackie, Croydon
