Although its reviews and events listings focused on the cultural life of Athens, The Athenian had a wide audience of English reading residents of Greece and travelers.
Kotsonis's model was the New Yorker magazine, with an emphasis on Greek cultural events and history; reviews of theater, cinema, art, and archeology; practical information on museums, shopping, and showtimes; and satire.
Kotsonis wrote in the first issue, "In this journal, we would like to reflect the various cultures that converge here -- and in the process make life in Athens more interesting and understandable."
Some notable contributors were Kimon Friar, Paul Valassakis, Grover Williamson McDiarmid, Robert Brenton Betts, Loui Silivridou-Pasalari, Paul Anastasi, Kevin Andrews, Elizabeth Boleman-Herring, Willard Manus, Katerina Agrafioti, Marc Dubin, Alec Kitroeff,[2] Yannis Gaitis, Alekos Fassianos, Antonis Kalamaras, Spyros Vassiliou, Spyros Ornerakis, Nikos Stavroulakis and more.
The magazine’s main editorial titled “Our Town” became essential reading for English speaking readers, analyzing the political and social developments of Greece.