Mayor Adams is taking media coverage into his own hands.
Adams, who has grown increasingly cranky lately with how he’s covered by the City Hall press corps, launched a newsletter Monday that he claimed will counteract “distorted” journalism about his administration.
In a dig at the reporters who cover him every day, Adams said he decided to roll out the new initiative, “Hear From Eric,” because “all the great stuff we are doing is being distorted or not being reported at all.”
“You can report a distorted version of what I say. I want to speak directly to the people of this city,” Adams said when asked by the Daily News why he’s starting the media service.
Adams, who spoke during an unrelated press conference in the Bronx, would not say how much the newsletter is expected to cost taxpayers. But a City Hall spokesman said later in the day that the administration expects to budget upward of $75,000 per year for the initiative.
Asked how frequently the newsletter will be published, the spokesman said, “As often as we think it can be an effective tool.”
In a statement before his news conference, Adams’ office said New Yorkers can sign up via a City Hall web portal to receive the newsletter in their email inboxes.
“Thanks for signing up to hear directly from me about the work we’re doing to Get Stuff Done for New Yorkers. You’ll receive breaking news and updates on city initiatives — all tailored to your personal interests,” says an automated email from the mayor that readers receive upon registering.
Asked during the Bronx event if there’s anything in particular he takes issue with in terms of news coverage of his administration, Adams said with a laugh: “Pick a topic.”
He waxed nostalgic for the days when he claimed there were “columnists and reporters.”
“Columnists would give their opinions, reporters would just report the news. Now, I don’t know who’s the columnist and who’s the reporter,” he said. “By the time I speak at a press conference and then I read the story, I say, ‘Were we at the same press conference?'”
He also claimed he’d be “surprised” if local outlets covered the main focus of his Monday event — a $75 million low-interest loan fund for small businesses partially bankrolled by Goldman Sachs.
In light of the Monday missive, some of Adams’ critics drew parallels between the mayor and former President Donald Trump, who’s infamous for referring to the media as the “enemy of the people” and accusing reporters of spreading “fake news.”
“How Trumpian whoa,” left-wing activist Shulim Leifer tweeted of Adams’ tirade.
Ken Frydman, a political strategist who once served as an adviser to Mayor Rudy Giuliani, questioned the public utility of Adams’ foray into media.
“‘Hear From Eric’ is not a media service. It’s political propaganda designed to re-elect Eric Adams,” Frydman said.
The mayor didn’t name any particular outlets as part of his press-bashing remarks.
But since taking office over a year ago, he has regularly complained about reporting from The News and other outlets that cover him at City Hall. In recent weeks, his laments have grown more frequent.
In a Jan. 9 appearance on AM-970 radio, Adams claimed “the most disappointing aspect” of being mayor is that “many people who should be cheering for the city have been doing just the opposite,” including journalists who have “no desire of just properly reporting the truth.”
And in a speech to civic leaders in Manhattan on Dec. 14 — shortly after returning from a trip to Qatar — he accused the press corps of focusing on the “worst part of our day” and said he does not see similar media coverage when he’s abroad.
“We have to tell our news publications: Enough, enough, enough,” he said.
