Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Wayne Barrett's Wife Is His "Liaison To Planet Earth"
By
Ben Yakas
Published Feb 27, 2011
Modified Feb 28, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Feb 27, 2011
Modified Feb 28, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
In January, Village Voice reporter Wayne Barnett was let go after 37 years at the weekly tabloid, for what was said to be budgetary reasons. The Times has a feature catching up with the muckraking reporter, who is currently at work on an article for The Nation. There are many amusing anecdotes from the man ("Bloomberg’s first term was, I think, the best I’ve ever covered, but since then he’s treading water. I think the job bores him."), along with quotes from former colleagues and mentees (“Wayne manages to be endearing and obnoxious at the same time.”) The whole story is worth reading, but there's one bit in particular, from his wife Fran Barrett ("Wayne's liaison to planet Earth") which stood out to us:
Over the years, Ms. Barrett, who works for Atlantic Philanthropies, a charitable foundation dedicated to what the left would call social justice issues, has learned not to worry too much about the sketchy characters, the threats, even the occasional physical assault her husband suffers in pursuit of an article. It is often she who is left to deal with the politicians, mobsters, informants and journalists who knock or call at all hours (one of these, former Governor Cuomo, advised her several times that if she ever wanted a divorce, he would represent her).
“One night, two different guys called, anonymous sources, who said, ‘Call me X,’ and I’m taking messages,” Ms. Barrett said. “I told the second one, ‘I’m sorry, X is taken today. I’m going to have to call you Y.’ "
Tagged
fran barrett
reporter
village voice
wayne barrett
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 2:49 p.m. ET
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Charles Lane
Ex-Adams aide accused of pocketing kickbacks from community program funds
By
Samantha Max
MTA to begin 6-year project to upgrade signal tech on A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .