Journalist, word nerd, cyclist. Weekly edition editor @AlbanyBizReview. Tweeting on all things business, bike commuting and work life. That bio appears under Philip Schwartz’s Twitter handle. It sums it all up, and with six characters to spare.
In 15 years of journalism, Philip has covered everything from school boards to local politics to state Senate elections — but that was just the wonkish stuff from the early years. What more people want to hear about, and what makes better cocktail party conversation, came later when he was a music and pop culture writer/critic for The Daily Gazette in Schenectady, New York. (Let’s be honest, though, this is where he starts name dropping). In his time at The Gazette, he interviewed comedy legend George Carlin before he died, rock pioneer Bo Diddley before he died, country superstar Miranda Lambert before she was famous, even a few of his heroes who no one else seems to know.
He joined the editorial staff of the Albany Business Review in 2008 as associate editor. In 2013, he was promoted to weekly edition editor and was part of a team that ushered in a major redesign. In addition to the usual duties during his Business Review tenure, he has written book reviews, blogged about his experiences as a bike commuter and tried his hand at newspaper design. At this point in the bio, Schwartz realizes he’s leaving out crucial information. Born and raised in Peekskill, New York. Product of the State University of New York system — @Geneseo, where a love of stories and storytelling prompted him to study literature and major in English.
He currently lives in Burnt Hills, New York, with his wife Heather, a children’s book writer; two sons, ages 7 and 2; and two cats, Stampy and Squid.