The Village Voice, founded by Edwin Fancher, Dan Wolf and Norman Mailer in 1955, was the first urban tabloid-format newspaper, a format now known as an "alternative weekly."

While other newspapers, such as the Daily News and the New York Post, have cut back on arts coverage in recent months, Barbey plans to increase the Voice's arts coverage.

In an interview with The New York Times, Barbey said, that The Village Voice was once an essential “voice of the arts and cultural community in New York.” He plans to increase coverage by attracting top writers. 

Barbey, whose family ranks 48th on Forbes' list of America's wealthiest families, told the New York Times that he is "flat-out serious about getting The Voice to be a major Manhattan publication."

He also said, "Over the years it’s been known as a place that made writers’ reputations. If you were a good writer, you wanted to write for The Voice.”

Scott Tobias, chief executive of Voice Media Group, told the New York Times, “During a time of great challenges and great opportunities in the industry, we’re thrilled that we’ve found an experienced journalist and operator with such considerable resources to take the reins at The Voice.”