Gonzalo Duran has been named Editor-in-Chief of the Big Apple Gazette, formalizing a leadership role he has steadily developed as the publication expanded its footprint across New York City’s civic and political landscape.
His appointment reflects a progression shaped less by conventional newsroom pathways and more by sustained engagement in community reporting and political coverage over the past decade.
Duran’s entry into journalism began not in a newsroom but through advocacy. More than thirteen years ago, while working closely with homeless student veterans, he observed a persistent gap between lived experience and public coverage. Stories affecting veterans and transitional housing rarely reached sustained media attention.
In response, Duran began writing independently. Early pieces took the form of articles, newsletters, and community bulletins focused on veteran services, housing access, and overlooked policy concerns. Over time, the work expanded beyond advocacy into structured reporting.
He contributed to local publications including the Bronx Chronicle and produced written work through nonprofit initiatives, refining his reporting style and editorial judgment. The transition from activist writer to journalist, however, became more defined during his tenure with the Bronx Daily.
At the Bronx Daily, Duran expanded into field reporting and political coverage. Assignments included interviews with elected officials, coverage of city-level civic forums, and reporting on municipal developments. It was during this period that he conducted a requested interview with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, marking a significant professional milestone.
The mayoral interview was not incidental. Duran had been asked specifically to conduct it, an acknowledgment of his growing presence within the local reporting ecosystem. The assignment demonstrated both access and credibility, situating him within a more formal journalistic framework.
From that point forward, his reporting broadened in scope. Political interviews became more frequent. Coverage extended beyond single-issue advocacy to include electoral dynamics, community debates, and citywide policy discussions.
The Big Apple Gazette, conceived in 2023 and activated the following year, emerged within that broader trajectory. Under Duran’s leadership, the publication has positioned itself as a platform for local and national political dialogue while maintaining an emphasis on community-based reporting.
Colleagues describe Duran’s leadership style as development-oriented. Reporter Elianni Tajeda recalls meeting him at a community event where she was taking photographs casually.
“He helped me improve the quality of my photos,” Tajeda said. “Over time he guided me in refining my work. Then one day he asked, why don’t you start publishing your work? The next thing I knew, I was writing and taking pictures for the Gazette.”
That approach has shaped the Gazette’s internal culture. Contributors are encouraged to expand their skills across writing, photography, and field coverage. Teen volunteers have assisted with background research and submissions, reinforcing the publication’s grassroots foundation while building a future reporting pipeline.
As Editor-in-Chief, Duran has outlined plans for measured expansion. The Gazette aims to increase reporter participation across boroughs, broaden digital reach, and introduce more investigative and long-form projects. Growth, he suggests, will be both geographic and substantive.
“As we grow, I see our readership growing with us,” Duran said. “I see investigative pieces. I see more columnists. I see broader projects. If someone has something meaningful to share, we want to create space for that.”
Duran’s broader professional background includes more than a decade of nonprofit leadership through Devil Dog USA Incorporated, where he has overseen community-based programs and veteran-focused initiatives. He is a graduate of Fordham University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Health Science in 2014. He also serves as a chaplain with the New York State Chaplain Workers Task Force and hosts public access programs that air on BronxNet, Manhattan Neighborhood Network, and BRIC TV.
Yet in conversation, he tends to frame his career less around titles and more around continuity of purpose.
“With journalism changing so quickly, I want to make sure the people who want to be heard are heard,” Duran said. “And the people seeking information receive it at the highest level on both ends.”
His ascent to Editor-in-Chief reflects an arc that began with independent advocacy writing and evolved through structured political reporting at the Bronx Daily. The mayoral interview, in particular, stands as a point at which community engagement intersected with formal journalism, reinforcing his credibility within the city’s reporting environment.
Today, the newsroom he leads operates at the intersection of civic access and political scrutiny. Coverage ranges from local community events to interviews with public officials, reflecting a publication still expanding its institutional identity.
Gonzalo Duran has remarked that he did not originally envision a career in journalism. The trajectory, he has suggested, emerged through persistence rather than planning.
“I never thought I would be a writer,” he said. “I never thought I would be editor-in-chief. And now I wonder what more will come from this.”
The question remains open, but the appointment signals a consolidation of experience into leadership. For the Big Apple Gazette, the transition represents both continuity and institutional ambition within New York’s evolving local media landscape.
Gonzalo Duran can be reached at (516) 515-0240 or via email at gonzaloduran@thebigapplegazette.com.
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