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Jake Silverstein
Jake Silverstein
Jake Silverstein
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Jake Silverstein (born 1975) is an American writer and magazine editor. He is the editor-in-chief of The New York Times Magazine and the author of Nothing Happened and Then It Did, a novelized memoir.

Key Information

Early life and education

[edit]

Silverstein was raised in Oakland, California, in a Jewish family,[1][2] the eldest of two children.[3] His mother was a psychoanalyst and his father an architect.[3] He attended Wesleyan University[4] where he majored in English, and later earned an M.A. in English from Hollins University[3] and then an M.F.A. from the University of Texas at Austin's Michener Center for Writers[5] in 2006.[6] He was a Fulbright scholar in Zacatecas, Mexico, in 2002.[6]

Career

[edit]

After graduating from college, Silverstein interned at Harper's in 1998, continued at the magazine for a year as a fact-checker,[6] then moved to The Big Bend Sentinel in Marfa, Texas in 1999.[3]

Silverstein was the editor of Texas Monthly from 2008 to 2014, during which time the magazine won four National Magazine Awards in 12 nominations.[3][7] Under his tenure, the magazine had a circulation of approximately 300,000 and rising revenue, in contrast to many similar publications in the same period.[3] He became the editor of The New York Times Magazine in May 2014,[3] since which time the magazine has won 14 National Magazine Awards. The Magazine has also won 7 Pulitzer Prizes, in Feature Writing (2015, 2024), Commentary (2020), Criticism (2021), International Reporting (2022), Illustrated Reporting and Commentary (2023), and Public Interest (2024).

He is the author of the hybrid memoir-novel Nothing Happened and Then It Did, which he wrote during his M.F.A. program[6] and published in 2010[8] with W.W. Norton & Company.[9][10]

1619 Project

[edit]

As editor-in-chief of the New York Times Magazine, Silverstein has played a role in the 1619 Project, a view of the role of slavery in the history of the United States. Some historians argue the project contains factual inaccuracies and distortions in attributing slavery a central role in the American Revolution.[11] Silverstein has disputed those claims.[12] The author's essay for the project won a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 2020, while the project itself has won many other honors.[13] The 1619 Project book spent six months on the New York Times bestseller list.

Personal life

[edit]

He is married to archivist Mary LaMotte Silverstein, with whom he has two sons.[3]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Jake Silverstein

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from Grokipedia
Jake Silverstein (born 1975) is an American journalist, editor, and author best known as the editor-in-chief of The New York Times Magazine since 2014. A native of Oakland, California, Silverstein began his career as a reporter for the Big Bend Sentinel in Marfa, Texas, covering local stories before advancing to magazine editing roles. He later served as editor-in-chief of Texas Monthly from 2009 to 2014, during which the publication earned twelve National Magazine Award nominations and four wins, including for General Excellence and Public Interest. Silverstein holds a B.A. in English from Wesleyan University, an M.A. from Hollins University, and an M.F.A. At The New York Times Magazine, Silverstein oversaw a 2015 redesign and editorial expansions that contributed to the publication winning five National Magazine Awards (Ellies) in 2020, spanning categories like podcasting, reporting, feature writing, and public interest. His tenure includes commissioning the 2019 1619 Project, a series arguing that 1619—marking the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Virginia—represents a foundational moment for American history due to slavery's enduring legacy, which expanded into a book, podcast, and curriculum used in thousands of schools. The project garnered praise for highlighting overlooked aspects of racial history but faced substantial criticism from historians for inaccuracies, such as claims about the American Revolution's motives tied to preserving slavery, prompting an open letter from scholars that Silverstein publicly defended without issuing corrections, framing critiques as part of broader interpretive debates rather than factual errors. Silverstein is also the author of Nothing Happened and Then It Did: A Chronicle in Fact and Fiction (2010), a novelized memoir blending his experiences as a young journalist pursuing stories across the American Southwest and Mexico. His editorial approach emphasizes immersive narrative journalism and supporting reporters in exploring unfamiliar worlds, though his oversight of ideologically charged projects like the 1619 Project has drawn scrutiny amid concerns over institutional biases in mainstream media favoring interpretive reframings over strict historical consensus.

Early life and education

Upbringing and family influences

Jake Silverstein was born in 1975 and grew up in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, California, in an intellectual family environment that emphasized curiosity and engagement with ideas. His father, Murray Silverstein, worked as an architect at JSWD Architects while pursuing poetry, co-authoring books such as Dorms at Berkeley: An Architectural History (2001) and Patterns of Home: The Ten Essentials of Enduring Design (2006), which reflected a blend of creative and analytical pursuits. His mother, Marsha Silverstein, practiced as a psychotherapist in Berkeley, affiliated with the Ann Martin Center, contributing to a household attuned to introspection and human dynamics. This familial backdrop, situated in the culturally diverse East Bay area, influenced Silverstein's early development by fostering an earnest worldview and a drive to explore unfamiliar perspectives, as he later described the region as a place that "fed that curiosity and encouraged it." During his youth, he attended local schools including Chabot Elementary, Willard Middle School, and Berkeley High School, from which he graduated in 1993, participating in literary magazines and theater productions that hinted at nascent creative interests shaped by his parents' intellectual example. No public records detail siblings or additional family members exerting direct influence, but the Oakland setting—marked by its mix of progressive ethos and urban grit—complemented the home environment in cultivating his later journalistic sensibility toward immersive storytelling.

Academic training and early interests

Silverstein graduated from Berkeley High School in 1993, where he contributed to the school's literary magazine and participated in the Emerald Rain Productions theater group. During this period, he pursued creative writing, producing poetry and short stories that reflected an early fascination with narrative forms. He earned a B.A. in English from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. Silverstein subsequently obtained an M.A. in English from Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia, followed by an M.F.A. in creative writing from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin. These programs emphasized nonfiction and literary craft, aligning with his developing focus on long-form storytelling. His early interests were shaped by the diverse cultural environment of Oakland's Rockridge neighborhood and the broader East Bay region, where he developed a curiosity about immersing in unfamiliar social worlds—a theme that later informed his journalistic approach. Prior to formal higher education, Silverstein published his first journalistic piece, a profile of piano mover Ed Gong in the East Bay Express, signaling an budding interest in character-driven reporting. Following his undergraduate studies, he secured an internship at Harper's Magazine in New York, extending into a year-long role that introduced him to magazine editing and investigative nonfiction. In 1999–2000, he worked as a reporter for the Big Bend Sentinel, a weekly newspaper in Marfa, Texas, honing skills in rural reporting and narrative journalism.

Journalistic career

Entry into journalism and formative roles

Silverstein's entry into professional journalism occurred shortly after his graduation from Wesleyan University in 1997, when he relocated to Marfa, Texas, and joined the Big Bend Sentinel, a weekly newspaper serving the rural Big Bend region. There, from 1999 to 2000, he worked as a reporter, producing three to four stories per week on local matters such as city council proceedings, high school sports, and community events, gaining foundational experience in small-town reporting amid the sparse population and isolation of far West Texas. This period in Marfa proved formative, immersing Silverstein in a remote, artist-influenced outpost where he documented everyday rural life and later drew upon these observations for his 2010 book Nothing Happened and Then It Did: A Chronicle in Fact and Fiction, which blends memoir and fabricated elements to evoke the town's rhythms. Following his time at the Sentinel, Silverstein pursued a 2002 Fulbright Scholarship in Zacatecas, Mexico, conducting research that honed his interest in narrative nonfiction and cross-cultural storytelling. By 2005, he had advanced to the role of contributing editor at Harper's Magazine, where he contributed essays and reporting that emphasized immersive, long-form journalism. These early positions—marked by hands-on reporting in under-resourced outlets and scholarly fieldwork—built Silverstein's expertise in crafting detailed, place-based narratives, setting the stage for editorial leadership.

Leadership at Texas Monthly

Jake Silverstein joined Texas Monthly in 2006 and was appointed editor in 2008, becoming only the fourth person to hold the position in the magazine's history, succeeding William Broyles Jr., Gregory Curtis, and Evan Smith. At age 33, Silverstein brought a focus on long-form narrative journalism, emphasizing immersive storytelling that transported readers into unfamiliar Texas-centric worlds, such as in-depth investigations into state politics, culture, and injustices. During his tenure from 2008 to 2014, Texas Monthly earned 12 nominations for National Magazine Awards—the industry's highest honor—and secured four wins, including the 2010 Ellie Award for general excellence. Notable recognition included 2013 nominations for features like "The Innocence Penalty," an investigative piece on the Michael Morton wrongful conviction case that highlighted prosecutorial misconduct and DNA exonerations in Texas. Silverstein's leadership sustained the magazine's reputation for rigorous, place-based reporting, with stories often blending personal narratives and empirical scrutiny of Texas institutions, contributing to its status as a leading regional publication. Silverstein departed Texas Monthly in March 2014 to become editor-in-chief of The New York Times Magazine, leaving behind a track record of editorial stability and award-winning output that reinforced the magazine's legacy of "impeccable" journalism amid evolving media landscapes. His approach prioritized experiential depth over brevity, fostering pieces that demanded sustained reader engagement through detailed causal analysis of events and figures shaping Texas.

Editorship of The New York Times Magazine

Jake Silverstein was appointed editor of The New York Times Magazine on March 28, 2014, succeeding the previous leadership vacancy, with his tenure beginning on May 12, 2014. Prior to this role, Silverstein had served as editor-in-chief of Texas Monthly since 2008, where the publication earned 12 National Magazine Award nominations and four wins, including for general excellence. His selection emphasized his track record in narrative-driven journalism and long-form storytelling, aligning with the magazine's shift toward more immersive, reader-engaging content. Under Silverstein's leadership, The New York Times Magazine has prioritized expansive, reported features that transport readers into unfamiliar contexts, often blending literary essay with investigative enterprise. The publication underwent a relaunch in early 2015, introducing new columns and formats to enhance digital and print integration, including active social media engagement to foster ongoing reader dialogue. This approach has yielded consistent recognition, with the magazine receiving eight National Magazine Award nominations by 2016 alone. The magazine has secured multiple wins from the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) during Silverstein's tenure, including five category victories in 2020 for podcasting, reporting, feature writing, and public interest. In 2022, it claimed further honors highlighted in an interactive showcase of award-winning pieces. By 2024, The New York Times Magazine earned three National Magazine Awards and one additional ASME award, contributing to the broader newsroom's five total wins that year. Nominations continued into 2025, reflecting sustained excellence in editorial output. As of October 2025, Silverstein remains editor-in-chief, overseeing a team focused on rigorous, story-driven journalism amid evolving media priorities, such as the discontinuation of youth-oriented sections like NYT for Kids to redirect resources. His editorship has been characterized internally as supportive of skilled reporters, emphasizing institutional backing for ambitious projects without notable internal disruptions.

Major projects and initiatives

Fractured Lands: The Middle East narrative (2016)

"Fractured Lands: How the Arab World Came Apart" was a 40,000-word multimedia feature published in The New York Times Magazine on August 14, 2016, under editor-in-chief Jake Silverstein. The project, written by Scott Anderson and featuring photographs by Paolo Pellegrin, examined the disintegration of the Arab world since the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, linking it to the failed Arab Spring uprisings, the emergence of ISIS, and the ensuing global refugee crisis affecting over 60 million people by 2016. The narrative structure centered on the interconnected stories of six individuals from Libya, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, and Iraqi Kurdistan—Majdi el-Mangoush, Majd Ibrahim, Laila Soueif, Wakaz Hassan, Azar Mirkhan, and Khulood al-Zaidi—spanning events from the Iraq War through the 2011 Arab Spring and beyond. Silverstein commissioned the piece as part of an effort to produce ambitious, resource-intensive journalism on pressing global issues, stating it addressed "debatably the most important story in the world right now… that has destabilized an entire region and released a new kind of uncertainty and terror into our lives." He emphasized a "go big or go home" approach, dedicating the entire print issue—ad-free and in black and white—to the single story, supplemented by online interactive elements including photo portfolios and a virtual reality video of Iraqi forces recapturing Fallujah from ISIS. Funding came in part from a grant by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, which supported the reporting but held no editorial role, according to Silverstein. The project drew praise for its narrative depth and innovative format, with Silverstein noting it as akin to a "small book" rather than a standard magazine article, and it won the 2017 Marco Bastianelli Award for Best Photo Book, recognizing Pellegrin's imagery. However, critics including the World Socialist Web Site contended that the account downplayed the causal role of U.S. foreign policy in fostering the region's instability, framing post-World War I state boundaries as the primary fault line rather than interventionist actions. Silverstein defended the focus on human-scale stories to convey the "total mosaic" of events without overwhelming readers, acknowledging the piece's length posed risks of fatigue but justified its scope for comprehensive understanding.

The 1619 Project (2019)

The 1619 Project, launched under the editorship of Jake Silverstein at The New York Times Magazine, appeared as a special issue on August 18, 2019, marking the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first ship carrying enslaved Africans to Point Comfort, Virginia. Originating from an idea by Times staff writer Nikole Hannah-Jones, the project proposed reorienting the narrative of U.S. history around 1619 as the nation's effective founding moment, asserting that the institution of slavery and its enduring consequences—rather than the events of 1776—primarily defined American political, economic, and cultural development. Silverstein, as editor in chief, commissioned and oversaw the effort, which involved collaboration with historians, journalists, poets, and visual artists to produce essays linking slavery's origins to modern phenomena. The issue comprised Hannah-Jones's lead essay on slavery's role in shaping democracy, supplemented by six additional essays exploring themes such as the economic foundations of capitalism through enslaved labor in the sugar industry, the racial disparities in healthcare policy, segregation's impact on urban infrastructure like Atlanta's traffic systems, and the influence of slavery on American music genres. It also featured 17 original literary works—including poems by Yusef Komunyakaa and Tyehimba Jess, and fiction by Jesmyn Ward and ZZ Packer—arranged chronologically to trace a 400-year arc from the Middle Passage to the present. Visual elements included photographs by contributors like Djeneba Aduayom and a timeline of historical events, with supplementary materials developed in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution. Key essays were authored by figures such as Matthew Desmond on slavery's capitalist legacy, Jeneen Interlandi on healthcare, and Wesley Morris on Black cultural innovations. In his editor's note, Silverstein articulated the project's aim to illuminate how slavery's "original sin" permeated institutions from municipal bonds funding Wall Street to policies perpetuating racial wealth gaps, positioning Black Americans' resilience and contributions as central to the national story. He described the work as an interpretive framework rather than exhaustive scholarship, drawing on primary sources and expert input to connect 1619's events to persistent inequalities in criminal justice, education, and democracy. The initiative included resources for educators, reflecting Silverstein's vision of journalism as a tool for reevaluating historical causality through empirical legacies of enslavement.

The 1619 Project controversies

Core thesis and commissioning process

The core thesis of the 1619 Project, as stated in Nikole Hannah-Jones's lead essay, asserts that the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Virginia in August 1619 constitutes the foundational moment of American history, rather than the Declaration of Independence in 1776, because the establishment of slavery as an enduring institution created the central contradiction animating U.S. democracy: the tension between professed ideals of liberty and the reality of racial oppression. The project frames this event as giving rise to key aspects of national identity, including economic structures, cultural forms like music and oratory, and political conflicts, with Black resistance against enslavement portrayed as the driving force toward realizing democratic promises. Jake Silverstein, editor-in-chief of The New York Times Magazine, commissioned the project in 2018 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the 1619 arrival, initially assigning Hannah-Jones, a staff writer, to produce a commemorative feature on the event's historical significance. Hannah-Jones proposed expanding it into a multifaceted initiative reframing broader American history around slavery's legacy, which Silverstein approved and oversaw, collaborating with her to recruit contributors including historians, journalists, poets, and fiction writers over the subsequent 14 months. The development process involved commissioning 16 essays linking 1619 to contemporary issues such as democracy, capitalism, healthcare, and criminal justice, alongside original literary works by Black authors and visual timelines developed with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture; the full issue launched digitally and in print on August 18, 2019, distributed free to over 2.5 million readers via the New York Times website and print subscribers.

Empirical praises and cultural impact

The 1619 Project received the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary, awarded to lead essayist Nikole Hannah-Jones for her introductory piece reframing American history around the arrival of enslaved Africans in 1619. This recognition highlighted the project's journalistic ambition in linking slavery's legacies to contemporary institutions, though the award drew scrutiny for overlooking factual disputes raised by historians. Additionally, the project's expanded book edition, The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story (2021), achieved #1 New York Times bestseller status and won an NAACP Image Award, indicating substantial commercial and cultural resonance among targeted audiences. The associated Hulu docuseries, released in 2023, earned a 2024 Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series, underscoring its production quality and appeal in visual storytelling formats. Empirically, the project demonstrated broad reach through educational adoption, with curricula integrated into K-12 and higher education settings across multiple states, supported by resources from the Pulitzer Center that facilitated lesson plans on slavery's enduring effects. By 2024, the Pulitzer Center's 1619 Education Impact Grants funded collaborative projects in six states, engaging educators in innovative teaching on African American history and identity formation. An American Heritage magazine survey ranked the book among the top 15 favorites of its readership for 2021, reflecting positive reception within segments of historically informed audiences. Culturally, the project catalyzed widespread discourse on racial history, prompting expansions into multimedia formats including children's literature and prompting political references, such as President Biden's invocation of its themes in speeches on equity. It influenced public narratives by emphasizing Black contributions to American innovation—from music to democracy—fostering initiatives like out-of-school programs that connected historical events to modern identity. This impact extended to heightened awareness of slavery's economic imprints, though measurable shifts in public opinion remain anecdotal amid polarized responses.

Historical inaccuracies and factual corrections

The 1619 Project's lead essay by Nikole Hannah-Jones asserted that "one of the primary reasons" for the American Revolution was the colonists' "desperate desire for liberty" threatened by Britain's potential abolition of slavery, implying slavery's preservation as a central motivating factor. This claim was challenged by historians including Gordon S. Wood, James M. McPherson, Sean Wilentz, Victoria Bynum, and James Oakes, who argued in a December 2019 open letter that no contemporary evidence supports the notion that the Revolution was driven primarily by fears of British emancipation policies, as Britain had no concrete plans to end slavery in the colonies at that time and instead offered freedom to enslaved people who joined British forces. They emphasized that primary sources, such as revolutionary pamphlets and declarations, focus on taxation, representation, and political independence rather than slavery protection. In response to these and similar critiques, The New York Times Magazine issued a correction on March 11, 2020, clarifying that the essay "did not aim to argue that the Revolution was solely, or even primarily, fought to preserve slavery" but rather that "preserving slavery was one of many motivations" alongside others like protecting the right to bear arms. The update acknowledged online debate but maintained the project's broader interpretive framework. Additional quiet edits were made to the online version in September 2020, adjusting phrasing in essays to soften claims about the Constitution's origins, such as removing implications that it was explicitly designed to safeguard slavery against federal interference. Other factual issues included the essay's portrayal of Abraham Lincoln's views on slavery and race, which Sean Wilentz described as distorting Lincoln's documented evolution toward emancipation and his opposition to slavery as a moral evil, not merely a political tool. Historian James M. McPherson, a Pulitzer Prize winner for his Civil War scholarship, contested the project's minimization of slavery's role in precipitating the war while overstating its influence on constitutional compromises, noting that the framers' debates centered on balancing state powers and economic interests, with slavery as one contentious element among several. Fact-checker Leslie Harris, consulted during production, later stated she explicitly warned editors against the Revolution-slavery linkage due to lack of supporting evidence but was overruled, highlighting internal processes that prioritized narrative over empirical verification. These corrections, while addressing specific phrasing, did not alter the project's core thesis redefining 1619 as America's foundational year over 1776 or 1787.

Scholarly and expert criticisms

Historians Gordon S. Wood, James M. McPherson, Sean Wilentz, Victoria Bynum, and James Oakes, in an open letter dated December 2019, criticized The 1619 Project for factual inaccuracies, particularly its assertion that protecting slavery was a primary motivation for the American Revolution. They argued that no substantial evidence exists of a British policy in 1776 to abolish the Atlantic slave trade, contrary to the project's claim that colonists rebelled partly to safeguard the institution amid perceived imperial threats to it. Wood, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian of the Revolutionary era, emphasized that the project's narrative erases the era's commitment to liberty and equality as articulated in the Declaration of Independence, substituting a view of the Revolution as driven by pro-slavery interests without supporting primary sources. McPherson, author of the seminal Battle Cry of Freedom, faulted the project for adopting a "deliberately narrow, narrative-driven view" that overlooks broader causal factors in events like the Civil War, including economic disputes and political ideologies beyond slavery alone, while distorting Lincoln's antislavery convictions by ignoring his adherence to the Declaration's universal principles. Wilentz, in a January 2020 Atlantic article, defended the historians' letter against counter-responses, asserting that the project's errors—such as reframing the Revolution's antislavery implications—undermined its credibility and promoted a "flattening of historical perspective" that prioritized ideological reinterpretation over empirical evidence. Critics further contended that positing 1619 as America's "true founding" marginalized the 1776 ideals, treating them as illusory covers for white supremacy rather than aspirational principles that, despite contradictions with slavery, spurred abolitionist movements and constitutional amendments. Wood noted in a 2019 interview that this approach implies perpetual failure to realize those ideals, ignoring measurable progress like the slave trade's end in 1808 and slavery's abolition via the 13th Amendment in 1865. The historians' collective critique, echoed in subsequent analyses, highlighted the project's resistance to corrections, as editor Jake Silverstein's defense maintained its interpretive framework despite acknowledged tweaks, such as editor's notes on the Revolution claim by March 2020.

Defenses, revisions, and broader implications

Jake Silverstein, as editor of The New York Times Magazine, defended the 1619 Project in a December 2019 response to historian critics, asserting that it was not intended as a comprehensive academic thesis but as a journalistic reframing to center slavery's consequences in American history, emphasizing its role in shaping institutions and culture without claiming exclusivity over other factors. He argued that the project's interpretive approach aligned with ongoing scholarly debates, such as those on the Revolution's antislavery dimensions, and dismissed demands for revisions as misunderstanding its journalistic purpose over literal historical claims. In a 2021 essay, Silverstein further positioned the project within a "long battle over U.S. history," portraying criticisms as part of cyclical historiographical conflicts rather than evidence of factual error, while upholding its value in highlighting overlooked Black contributions. Despite initial refusals to alter core claims, The New York Times issued targeted clarifications in March 2020, revising a passage in Nikole Hannah-Jones's lead essay to state that fears of slave emancipation were "not a primary motivation for independence" but "a significant one" among others, following internal fact-checking concerns and external pressure. Additional quiet edits appeared in the online version by September 2020, softening language on topics like the Revolution's motivations and slavery's economic primacy, though the publisher maintained these were clarifications rather than admissions of inaccuracy. For the 2021 book adaptation, The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story, some essays incorporated responses to critiques, but Silverstein reiterated the original framing without wholesale retraction, framing adjustments as refinements amid public discourse. The project's broader implications extended to education, where curricula based on it were adopted in districts like Chicago Public Schools by 2020, prompting Pulitzer Center-developed lesson plans that integrated its narratives into K-12 history teaching, though this faced empirical pushback for prioritizing thematic reframing over chronological precision. It catalyzed policy responses, including the Trump administration's 1776 Commission in 2020 as a counter-narrative emphasizing founding principles, and subsequent state-level restrictions on related materials in places like Florida by 2021, highlighting tensions between interpretive history and verifiable causation in civic education. In journalism, it underscored demands for public-facing history to balance narrative impact with factual rigor, influencing debates on editorial accountability—evident in heightened scrutiny of outlets like The New York Times for blending advocacy with reporting—while amplifying discussions on slavery's causal role in events like the Revolution, where defenses often rested on selective evidence amid broader scholarly consensus rejecting it as predominant.

Literary and other contributions

Authorship of Nothing Happened and Then It Did

Nothing Happened and Then It Did: A Chronicle in Fact and Fiction is a book authored by Jake Silverstein and published in hardcover by W. W. Norton & Company on April 19, 2010. The work spans 231 pages and blends memoir with fictional elements, structured as alternating chapters of nonfiction reportage and invented narratives inspired by Silverstein's real-life experiences. Silverstein, then in his late twenties during the events depicted, recounts his early attempts to establish himself as a freelance journalist through picaresque adventures across the American Southwest and into Mexico. The nonfiction sections draw from Silverstein's actual travels and reporting gigs, including an investigation into an unsolved murder in a remote West Texas town where he uncovers cryptic clues but achieves no resolution, reflecting his theory that positioning oneself in uneventful locales increases the odds of witnessing rare, scoop-worthy events. Fictional interludes amplify these episodes with heightened drama, such as quests for lost pirate treasure or encounters with eccentric figures, serving to satirize the blurred lines between journalistic truth and narrative embellishment. Critics noted the book's humorous tone and self-deprecating portrayal of youthful ambition, though some found the hybrid format disorienting, as it demands readers discern fact from fabrication without explicit markers beyond chapter alternation. Silverstein's authorship emerged from his pre-editorial career, following freelance contributions to outlets like Texas Monthly and predating his role as that magazine's editor-in-chief in 2009. The book critiques the romanticized pursuit of "nothing happening" as a journalistic strategy, positing that boredom breeds opportunity, a theme rooted in Silverstein's own itinerant phase of pitching improbable stories amid personal and professional setbacks. A paperback edition followed in 2011, but the work received modest commercial attention, with reviews praising its wit while questioning its genre coherence.

Editorial philosophy and influence on journalism

Jake Silverstein's editorial philosophy centers on immersive narrative journalism that transports readers into unfamiliar worlds and engages them with significant global issues through longform storytelling. During his tenure at Texas Monthly from 2009 to 2014, he prioritized "literature of fact," blending investigative reporting with high-quality, timeless narratives that transcend daily news cycles, resulting in 12 National Magazine Award nominations and four wins, including for General Excellence in 2010. Upon assuming the editorship of The New York Times Magazine in June 2014, Silverstein adopted a "go big or go home" approach, leveraging the publication's resources for ambitious, multiplatform projects that prioritize narrative impact over conventional formats. This manifested in initiatives like the 2016 "Fractured Lands" series—a 40,000-word narrative on the Middle East crisis accompanied by photography and VR elements—and the 2015 "The Displaced" VR package on refugee children, which distributed 1.3 million Google Cardboard viewers to enhance reader immersion in subjects' experiences. He views such innovations as tools to balance factual reporting with experiential storytelling, stating that immersive techniques like extended VR shots foster a sense of presence akin to "immersing yourself in a subject’s consciousness." Silverstein's influence extends to fostering bold editorial support for reporters pursuing unconventional projects, often beyond institutional norms, which he describes as trusting writers' "story sense" despite potential controversy. Under his leadership, the magazine secured five consecutive Pulitzer Prizes from 2019 to 2023 and multiple American Society of Magazine Editors awards, elevating longform narratives on topics like public health and foreign policy while integrating digital formats such as podcasts and interactive features. Colleagues credit his "vigorous and institutionally-shrewd" backing of strong-voiced journalists with amplifying underrepresented stories, including those on women's health disparities, thereby reshaping the magazine's role within The New York Times ecosystem as a platform for creative, high-impact journalism.

Awards and professional recognition

Achievements at Texas Monthly

Under Silverstein's editorship of Texas Monthly from 2008 to 2014, the magazine achieved significant recognition through the National Magazine Awards, administered by the American Society of Magazine Editors (now ASME). It received twelve nominations and secured four wins, including for general excellence, public interest, feature writing, and reporting. These accolades highlighted the publication's emphasis on in-depth, narrative-driven journalism focused on Texas culture, politics, and society. In 2010, Texas Monthly won a National Magazine Award for general excellence under Silverstein's leadership, recognizing the overall quality of its editorial content. By 2013, the magazine earned two additional awards for standout reporting: one for Mimi Swartz's essay "The Great Texas Wind Heist" in the public interest category and another for Pamela Colloff's feature "The Undoing" on a wrongful conviction case, both exemplifying rigorous investigative work. Silverstein's tenure also fostered a reputation for immersive storytelling that immersed readers in underrepresented Texas narratives, contributing to the magazine's sustained influence in regional journalism despite varying reports on the exact number of nominations (some sources cite eleven). This period marked a high point in Texas Monthly's awards trajectory prior to Silverstein's departure, with the honors underscoring editorial innovations in longform features amid competition from national outlets.

Honors during NYT Magazine tenure

Under Jake Silverstein's editorship of The New York Times Magazine, which commenced in June 2014, the publication amassed numerous National Magazine Awards from the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME). In 2020, the magazine emerged as the leading recipient with five Ellies: for Podcasting ("The Daily" episode on COVID-19 origins), Reporting ("The Virus Hunters" by Apoorva Mandavilli), Feature Writing ("The Bad-Blood Detective" by Megan Twohey, et al.), Public Interest (image issue on inequality), and Photojournalism ("The Year in Disasters" by photographers including Todd Heisler). Subsequent years yielded further wins, including Feature Writing in 2022 for pieces such as "The Astonishing Bravery of Ukrainian Journalists" by Sarah A. Topol and in 2025 for Topol's reporting on Afghan refugees, alongside accolades in design, photography, and illustration categories. The magazine's journalism under Silverstein also garnered Pulitzer recognition, notably the 2020 Prize for Commentary awarded to Nikole Hannah-Jones for the lead essay in the 1619 Project, a special issue launched in August 2019 that reexamined the legacy of slavery in America. Silverstein, as editor-in-chief, accepted the award on behalf of the team, emphasizing its role in expressing the project's foundational thesis. Additional honors included Society of Publication Design (SPD) Magazine of the Year designations and Type Directors Club (TDC) awards for typography in annual features like "The Lives They Lived."

Personal life

Family and residences

Silverstein met his wife, Mary LaMotte Silverstein, in 2000 when she was 30 and he was 25. The couple has two children. Silverstein grew up in an intellectual family in Oakland, California. Prior to 2014, he resided in Austin, Texas, with his young family. Following his appointment as editor-in-chief of The New York Times Magazine, he relocated to New York City.

Public persona and non-professional activities

Silverstein maintains a relatively low-key public persona, characterized by earnest curiosity and a focus on intellectual pursuits shaped by his East Bay upbringing, where he developed an appreciation for diverse narratives and community storytelling. In non-professional spheres, he has voiced a deep personal affinity for the expansive, solitary landscapes of West Texas, which he credits with providing a sense of freedom and restorative solitude amid the "infinite space" of the region. Among his leisure interests, Silverstein enjoys barbecue, reflecting a casual appreciation for culinary traditions encountered during his time in Texas. He has made select public appearances outside core editorial duties, including a keynote address at the Berkeley Narrative Journalism Conference in 2014 and a speech at the Pulitzer Center's 10th anniversary event in March 2023, where he discussed journalism's role in global reporting.

References

  1. https://investors.nytco.com/news-and-events/press-releases/news-details/2014/The-New-York-Times-Names-Jake-Silverstein-Editor-of-The-New-York-Times-Magazine/default.aspx
  2. https://www.huffpost.com/author/jake-silverstein
  3. https://niemanstoryboard.org/2016/01/19/jake-silverstein-immersing-you-in-worlds-not-your-own/
  4. https://asme.memberclicks.net/the-american-society-of-magazine-editors-announces-winners-for-2020-national-magazine-awards
  5. https://pulitzercenter.org/sites/default/files/full_issue_of_the_1619_project.pdf
  6. https://www.nytco.com/press/2020-pulitzer-prize-remarks-from-jake-silverstein/
  7. https://www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/twelve-scholars-critique-the-1619-project-and-the-
  8. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/20/magazine/we-respond-to-the-historians-who-critiqued-the-1619-project.html
  9. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/16/magazine/criticism-1619-project.html
  10. https://www.amazon.com/Nothing-Happened-Then-Did-Chronicle/dp/0393339947
  11. https://www.berkeleyside.org/2014/11/17/jake-silverstein-new-editor-of-new-york-times-magazine-the-east-bay-shaped-my-view-of-the-world
  12. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/29/business/media/jake-silverstein-of-texas-monthly-to-edit-the-new-york-times-magazine.html
  13. https://www.chron.com/life/article/Texas-Monthly-editor-Jake-Silverstein-brings-1731858.php
  14. https://www.texasmonthly.com/contributors/jake-silverstein/
  15. https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/A-magazine-job-that-s-as-big-as-the-Texas-sky-847228.php
  16. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-ca-jake-silverstein18-2010apr18-story.html
  17. https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2014/03/new-york-times-names-jake-silverstein-as-magazine-editor-185944
  18. https://austin.culturemap.com/news/arts/03-28-14-jake-silverstein-is-leaving-texas-monthly-for-new-york-times-magazine
  19. https://www.pbs.org/video/texas-monthly-talks-texas-monthly-editor-and-author-jake-silverstein/
  20. https://mrmagazine.me/2011/04/30/magazines-as-experience-makers-the-texas-monthly-way-the-mr-magazine%25E2%2584%25A2-interview-with-jake-silverstein-editor-of-texas-monthly-%25E2%2580%259Ci-want-my-kids-to-know-the-glory-of-great-american/
  21. https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-stand-up-desk/texas-monthly-nominated-for-four-national-magazine-awards/
  22. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/22/magazine/behind-the-relaunch-of-the-new-york-times-magazine-by-jake-silverstein.html
  23. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/04/06/magazine/national-magazine-awards.html
  24. https://www.nytco.com/press/times-wins-5-awards-from-asme/
  25. https://asme.memberclicks.net/american-society-of-magazine-editors-announces-national-magazine-awards-2025-winners
  26. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/magazine/masthead.html
  27. https://wan-ifra.org/2025/08/as-nyt-for-kids-is-axed-other-youth-products-are-finding-success/
  28. https://magazeum.co/content/jake-silverstein
  29. https://www.spd.org/print-is-dead-long-live-print/jake-silverstein
  30. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/08/11/magazine/isis-middle-east-arab-spring-fractured-lands.html
  31. https://www.democracynow.org/2016/8/12/fractured_lands_how_the_arab_world
  32. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/12/public-editor/why-d-you-do-that-jake-silverstein-fractured-lands-middle-east.html
  33. https://magculture.com/blogs/journal/ny-times-magazine-fractured-lands
  34. https://pulitzercenter.org/blog/pulitzer-center-partners-new-york-times-magazine-fractured-lands
  35. https://pulitzercenter.org/blog/fractured-lands-wins-2017-marco-bastianelli-award
  36. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2016/08/17/arab-a17.html
  37. https://www.popmatters.com/fractured-lands-scott-anderson-2017
  38. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/1619-america-slavery.html
  39. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/12/20/magazine/1619-intro.html
  40. https://pulitzercenter.org/blog/nikole-hannah-jones-wins-pulitzer-prize-1619-project
  41. https://www.forbes.com/sites/patriciagbarnes/2020/09/27/ideology-over-excellence-awarding-the-pulitzer-prize-to-the-1619-project/
  42. https://www.amazon.ca/1619-Project-New-Origin-Story/dp/0593230574
  43. https://pulitzercenter.org/blog/1619-project-docuseries-wins-emmy
  44. https://www.educationnext.org/1619-project-enters-american-classrooms-adding-new-sizzle-slavery-significant-cost/
  45. https://pulitzercenter.org/blog/introducing-2025-1619-education-impact-grantees
  46. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/26/briefing/the-1619-project-hulu-show.html
  47. https://1619education.org/
  48. https://www.cato.org/commentary/1619-project-autopsy
  49. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/12/historians-clash-1619-project/604093/
  50. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/11/magazine/an-update-to-the-1619-project.html
  51. https://www.heritage.org/american-history/impact/new-york-times-quietly-edits-1619-project-after-conservative-pushback
  52. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/01/1619-project-new-york-times-wilentz/605152/
  53. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/03/06/1619-project-new-york-times-mistake-122248
  54. https://www.golocalprov.com/news/Brown-Professor-Pulitzer-Prize-Winner-Wood-Battles-New-York-Times-Over-Sl
  55. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/11/28/wood-n28.html
  56. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/11/14/mcph-n14.html
  57. https://www.bostonreview.net/articles/david-waldstreicher-hidden-stakes-1619-controversy/
  58. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/09/magazine/1619-project-us-history.html
  59. https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/the-1619-project-and-the-demands-of-public-history
  60. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jake-silverstein/nothing-happened-and-then-it-did/
  61. https://bombmagazine.org/articles/2010/05/03/nothing-happened-and-then-it-did/
  62. http://www.publishersweekly.com/9780393076462
  63. https://fictionwritersreview.com/review/nothing-happened-and-then-it-did-by-jake-silverstein/
  64. https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/times-insider/2014/06/23/getting-to-know-jake-silverstein/
  65. https://www.asme.media/asme-announces-the-winners-of-the-2010-national-magazine-awards
  66. https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-stand-up-desk/big-night-at-the-national-magazine-awards/
  67. https://www.instagram.com/p/DKsPdX9PD_h/
  68. https://www.oneclub.org/awards/tdcawards/-award/55703/the-lives-they-lived/
  69. https://montclairlocal.news/2015/11/showing-love-to-the-montclair-public-library-my-first-chapter-2/
  70. https://www.transgendermap.com/issues/topics/media/jake-silverstein/
  71. https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2014/03/30/jake-silverstein-picked-out-to-become-the-new-editor-of-the-new-york-times-magazine/
  72. https://bookpeopleblog.com/2010/04/19/interview-with-jake-silverstein-nothing-happened-and-then-it-did/
  73. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvoPDUdy03g
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