The Grill Room Meredith Kopit Levien’s New New York Times
Sep 16, 2025
Meredith Kopit Levien, C.E.O. of The New York Times, reveals her vision for transforming the publication into a vibrant lifestyle brand. She discusses leveraging AI for efficient journaling while keeping the human touch. The conversation dives into their strategy for reaching 15 million subscribers by 2027 and the success of The Athletic. Levien also highlights the evolution of media consumption, exploring the balance between business interests and editorial integrity, and emphasizes the importance of innovative advertising strategies.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Journalism Is The Core Engine
- The New York Times remains first and foremost a preeminent institution of high-quality independent journalism.
- That journalism underpins and legitimizes its growing lifestyle products and bundled subscription strategy.
Lead, Don’t Just Participate
- The Times aims to lead in every space it competes in, not just participate.
- Market leadership in news, games, cooking, sports and shopping expands audience reach and subscription potential.
Prioritize Daily Engagement
- Drive subscription growth by increasing daily engagement across formats and topics.
- Prioritize products and features that make people return multiple days a week.