[2] In 1983, Amsterdam was hired by D. Herbert Lipson to begin assembling his new magazine, Manhattan, inc.[2] The first issue debuted in September 1984.
In March 1987, Amsterdam abruptly resigned in a dispute over editorial control, accusing Lipson of wanting to favor advertisers.
[2] Within six months the paper, famous for tabloid journalism and headlines such as "Headless Body in Topless Bar," had toned down sensationalism and increased investigative reporting.
[12] She also oversaw the debut of the Post's new Sunday edition, a feature intended to compete against rival New York tabloids the Daily News and Newsday,[13] and worked on the section's book review and travel supplements.
[14] Within a year after her hiring, Amsterdam was forced out by Post publisher Peter Kalikow, who reportedly complained that the more credible form of journalism was not helping sell more papers.
[1] Amsterdam was a member of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, and served as a judge for the National Magazine Awards in 1988 and 1989, and the Pulitzer Prize in 1989 and 1990.
[16] From 1985 to 2000, Amsterdam was married to writer Jonathan Z. Larsen, the former editor-in-chief of The Village Voice,[18] with whom she adopted a son, Edward Roy, in 1990.