So you’re writing about an Outer Borough.
You’re a writer working in New York and you’re about to publish some riveting, hyper-local content. Maybe you’re reporting on where the halal guys buy their lamb, or showing how Canarsie will be the next Flatbush, or exploring the burgeoning momo scene in Jackson Heights. You’re about to be drowning in pageviews. Dope! Great! But hang on.
We are not “out here.” And we’re CERTAINLY not “out THERE.”
The City of New York was consolidated on January 1, 1898, including Queens, Kings, Richmond, New York, and Bronx counties. Whoever your audience-- young people, yogis, pet owners, whatever-- we’re scattered throughout all five boroughs of the city. It may seem subtle, but your readers notice when you write “all the way in Queens” or “out in the Bronx,” and it grates on us. Avoid relative terms of distance or familiarity if the only point of reference is where you live.
Sure, there are places that are hard to get to by public transportation. And if you’re writing about transportation issues, keep at it! But talk to locals before you make value judgments. Some neighborhoods may be far from the subway, but many people in the city enjoy a lifestyle that doesn’t rely on transit. Talk to local people to figure it out. Which brings me to my second point:
People care about where we live. Ask us.
This should be one of the first questions you ask when covering any location-based story in New York. Practice it: “What neighborhood is this?” If you’re speaking in person, it may seem silly to ask about where you are. But it matters. And it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you get a location wrong, your readers will roll their eyes and inform you, if not discount your reporting to some degree. Even residents sometimes disagree about neighborhood boundaries, so ask two people if you’d like, or call up the local Community Board. They’ll be happy to tell you.
As a writer, you probably don’t need to be told this, but words matter. Somehow even the New York Times style guide allows formulations like “the Country Club section of the Bronx.” This is not how any New Yorker speaks. New York is a city of neighborhoods, not wards, districts, or emirates. (Attempt “nabe” at your own risk.)
Avoid cliches.
This is just good writing, but it bears repeating when describing New York neighborhoods. Queens has never been peopled only by Archie Bunkers. Apocryphal stories about Staten Island being won from New Jersey explain nothing. Brooklyn was never merely the borough of homes and churches. There’s nothing wrong with appreciating the deep history of New York. But if you’re describing history that you haven’t researched, in writing that isn’t about history, it’s probably best avoided.
There are no “outer boroughs.”
It’s not the 17th Century anymore. All 5 boroughs are pretty densely inhabited by people who read, and comment, and will tweet at you if you get our city wrong. Thanks for being conscientious.