Adam Nagourney, New York Times reporter, discusses the successes and failures of The New York Times over the past four decades. They explore generational fractures in the newsroom, the power of editors, institutional conservatism, coverage of the Iraq War, and the divide between news and opinion sections.
The role of the executive editor at The New York Times has evolved over the years, shifting from a focus on the editor's relationship with the publisher to emphasizing competence and adaptation to societal changes.
The New York Times has faced challenges in diversifying its newsroom and providing comprehensive coverage of certain communities, highlighting the tension between tradition and the need for adaptation.
The Times' slow response to the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, attributed to conservatism and discomfort with homosexuality, had detrimental consequences and highlighted the paper's shortcomings.
Deep dives
The Challenges of Writing a Book About The New York Times
Adam Nagerni discusses his motivation for writing a book about The New York Times, highlighting his admiration for the publication since college and the inspiration he drew from a previous book on The Times. He explains the advantage of writing a historical account, as it allowed for candid interviews and access to documents not available if writing about the present. Nagerni also discusses the advantages and disadvantages of being an insider at The Times while writing the book.
The Evolution of the Executive Editor's Role at The New York Times
The podcast delves into the changing role of the executive editor at The New York Times over the past four decades. It examines how the position has transitioned from being primarily based on the editor's relationship with the publisher to being more dependent on the competence of the newsroom and adapting to societal changes. The podcast highlights the challenges faced by executive editors in balancing the demands of the publisher, the vocal newsroom, and the digital age.
The Dynamics of Change and Conservatism in The New York Times
The podcast raises the issue of institutional conservatism within The New York Times, focusing on the slow progress in diversifying the newsroom and shortcomings in coverage of certain communities. It explores the tensions between the paper's dedication to tradition and the need to adapt to the changing media landscape. The podcast acknowledges the complexities faced by executive editors in navigating these dynamics and how historical context and personal experiences shape their decision-making.
The Times' Slow Response to AIDS Epidemic
The podcast explores the Times' slow response to the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, attributing it to societal conservatism, elitism, and discomfort with homosexuality. The paper's coverage was insufficient, taking two years to report on the epidemic and failing to prioritize the crisis until Max Frankel took charge.
The Damage of Jason Blair and Iraq Coverage
The podcast discusses two major scandals in the Times' history - the Jason Blair plagiarism scandal and the coverage of the Iraq War. While the Blair scandal damaged the paper's reputation, the Iraq coverage was more detrimental, eroding trust in the Times' objectivity and credibility. The paper still faces the repercussions of these events today.
New York Times reporter Adam Nagourney looked at the successes and failures of the last four decades of "the paper of record," The New York Times. He was interviewed by Columbia Journalism Review contributor Jon Allsop.