The History of The New York Times. All the news that's fit to print

fot. The New York Times (Public Domain)

In 1851, several major newspapers were being published in New York. Among them, the most popular was The New York Herald, known for its professionalism and honest journalism, and the New York Tribune, which focused mainly on the issue of abolition. It was at the latter paper that two friends worked: Henry Jarvis Raymond and George Jones.

Henry, right after graduating in journalism from the University of Vermont, began working at the Tribune but also wrote for the Courier and Enquirer. George, though he started his career in a newspaper (Northern Spectator from Vermont), spent the following years in trade and banking. He was also familiar with the publishing industry, though more on the book side. With experience as a publisher and financial know-how, he increasingly entertained the idea of launching his own newspaper. When he met Raymond in the New York Tribune newsroom in the late 1840s, those dreams became real. The men began looking for investors.


With the help of friends, Henry managed to raise $100,000 in capital. George raised another $100,000 from investors in Alabama and Aurora, banker Edward Welles, and from his own funds. Once the money was secured, the editors got to work. The result was the first issue of the New-York Daily Times, published on September 18, 1851. Before that first issue hit readers’ hands, on August 5, 1851, the newly formed publishing company Raymond, Jones & Company, Inc began operations.

New-York Daily Times. Every morning, except Sunday

The newspaper’s editorial office was located in downtown New York, at 138 Nassau Street, with Henry Raymond as editor-in-chief. George Jones became the publisher and financial director, though he often took up the pen himself.

The first issue had 4 pages, each with 6 columns, and a print run of 10,000 copies. According to the founders` vision, the newspaper was to be:

• universal
• written in a balanced tone
• free from passion
• promoting the doctrines of Christianity and republicanism
• open to discussion but without any inappropriate interference
• providing domestic and international news
• interested in local issues
• published six days a week, from Monday to Saturday
• costing one cent

The first editorial began with the words: Today we publish the first issue of The New York Daily Times and we intend to publish it every morning (except Sunday) for an indefinite number of years to come…

As promised, they delivered and stuck to those principles for a long time. Reports from around the world were featured on the front pages. The main domestic topic was slavery and news primarily from California, while the ads brought in the first revenue.

Breaking even. It was supposed to be different

From the start, Raymond built a strong and professional team. Several reporters and journalists came over from the Tribune. Leading the way were James Simonton, night editor, Caleb Norvel, dubbed the commercial editor, and Alexander C. Wilson, the editor-in-chief’s personal assistant, known for his remarkable memory - an asset in journalism. A group of experienced printers also took up new jobs with old colleagues, knowing the craft and their superiors’ expectations. It’s no surprise the new morning title quickly found readers on the New York market.

Although the paper was primarily published in the morning, additional editions were released at one and three o’clock in the afternoon. However, these were only reprints of the morning news, and no copies remain in the archives. Since every daily was also required to publish a weekly, a few issues of the Weekly Family Times have survived as a memento - a summary of the week.

Though the first year brought the paper great acclaim and a circulation of 26,000, unfortunately, despite advertising, the company only managed to break even financially.

Jones, responsible for the company’s finances, decided to take a risk and in the second year doubled the number of pages and raised the price. Initially, circulation dropped sharply, but in the end, the paper - now offering more space for ads and a greater number of articles and columns - began to turn a profit. In 1852, a supplement called Times for California was also launched.

Fierce debate over slavery

The Times’ reputation attracted popular writers and well-known journalists. This was also influenced by several events covered in the paper. The first came just three months after its debut, when Raymond supported the Hungarian cause and its leader Lajos Kossuth, who had come to the United States seeking financial support.

The paper published Kossuth’s speeches like a serialized novel, in episodes, supporting his actions, and thus gained exclusive access to topics related to his stay in America. In return, after returning to Europe, the Hungarian leader - who was also a journalist - became one of the Times` first correspondents in London.

Politics of the highest order quickly made their way into the newspaper. While running the paper, Raymond was also Speaker of the New York State Assembly, and in 1854, he became Lieutenant Governor of New York. He openly opposed slavery, which was evident in his articles. This stance displeased many critics - of both the editor and the newspaper.

Still, he emphasized that this was his personal view and he welcomed discussion on differing opinions in the newspaper. From the start, the paper had a column dedicated to responding to readers’ letters, so the debate intensified, especially as tensions between the North and South escalated.

The Times also succeeded thanks to its fast response to events, aided by the miraculous invention known as the telegraph. Although still in its early stages, it was a very useful tool for communication and information delivery.

No more "Daily". Simply The New-York Times

The Times had grown strong enough that in 1854 it moved to larger offices at the corner of Beekman and Nassau Streets. A new chapter in its history began on September 14, 1857, when the paper adopted a new name: The New-York Times, with a hyphen between New and York - a distinctive mark.

In 1858, another move followed, this time to its own building at 41 Park Row. The Times became the first New York newspaper to own a headquarters built specifically for its needs.

In its early years, The New-York Times became a popular and trusted newspaper. Alongside world and national news, it printed financial and commercial reports, the latest daily updates, legal and crime information. Advertisements and classifieds filled four full pages. Most content and news items were grouped in fixed columns under one headline.

• Latest Intelligence (telegraphic news)
• The Central America
• News of the day (daily updates)
• Marine Intelligence (maritime news)
• Financial (finance)
• Commercial affairs (business matters)
• New-York City (local NYC news)

Thematically grouped ads had their own headers. The front page featured navigation and occasionally poetry. Major news coverage changed in 1861 with the outbreak of the Civil War. The editorial office had to shift its political stance and also make operational changes. Some proved beneficial, others not.

• the paper supported Abraham Lincoln, becoming a Republican-leaning daily
• it stopped using telegraphic news from the Associated Press
• established its own team of war correspondents
• purchased more printing presses and adopted flong printing
• began publishing the Sunday edition The Sunday Times on April 20, 1861
• raised the price to 4 cents
• in December 1861, expanded to 7 columns per page

Despite the price increase, circulation rose to 40,000 copies. Much of this success was thanks to the correspondents. Their vivid reports and, most importantly, the speed of information delivery were invaluable. Benjamin C. Truman led the way, often beating even military reports.

Turmoil at the helm

The postwar period brought the paper several weighty issues. Raymond supported Democrat Andrew Johnson for president. As a result, he lost his position as head of the Republican Party, and the paper lost favor with its members. By the 1868 election, the paper supported Ulysses Grant (Republican) and opposed issuing so-called greenbacks, which were not backed by gold or silver. In the following years, it once again switched sides, this time backing the National Democratic Party and supporting its reforms. This turn displeased readers and some shareholders. The paper began to struggle, especially financially.

When Henry Raymond died unexpectedly of a heart attack in 1869, Jones took over the company and assumed the role of editor-in-chief. Realizing things weren’t as smooth as they seemed, he formed a board of directors consisting of Leonard Jerome, James B. Taylor, and himself. They appointed lawyer, diplomat, and historian John Bigelow as editor-in-chief. Unfortunately, despite his writing credentials, Bigelow failed in the role. A major national event - so-called Black Friday - did not stir much interest in him. The aging Bigelow retired, and George Shepard, a columnist at the paper since 1863, took his place.

The Times slowly regained its footing and achieved a spectacular success. Under Jones’ leadership, the paper ran a series exposing the activities of Tammany Hall boss William M. Tweed. This investigative journalism uncovered numerous inconsistencies, and the articles were reprinted in other American papers. Jones also published a supplement in German, the second most spoken language in New York. Readers followed the developments closely. When the paper published the society’s ledgers in 1871, and two years later Tweed was sentenced to 12 years in prison, congratulations poured in.

Investigative journalism at The New-York Times

One of the leading investigative reporters at the time was Augustus St. Clair. He gained fame with a series titled The Evil of the Age about illegal abortion. The topic was sensitive, and St. Clair operated undercover to expose the dark side of the practice. It paid off - abortion laws were changed.

In 1875, the paper had another major win. Johan C. Reid, who was editor-in-chief at the time, reported on the trial of preacher Henry Beecher, accused of adultery. His colorful language, sharp insights, and clever coverage captivated readers.

The sensational affairs section drew so much interest that some of New York’s shady figures tried to buy the paper - and when that failed, to intimidate the owner. When rumors of a sale circulated in March 1871, Jones replied on March 28: From the first issue, I have been too actively involved in its management and care too deeply about its good name to disgrace it by making it a mouthpiece for lies and corruption.

The attacks didn’t stop, and though Jones held his ground, he couldn’t prevent the downfall. When he declined to participate in the 1884 elections and the paper severed ties with the Republican Party, trouble began. Advertisers turned away from the Times. Profits dropped from $188,000 to $56,000. Purchasing more land at 41 Park Row for expansion and building design consumed more funds, but in 1889, the paper moved into its new headquarters.

Adding high dividends for shareholders to the mix, it’s no surprise the company faced serious financial issues. Editors-in-chief changed frequently, and the editorial staff was divided over political matters.

Financial disaster. Times changes owner and name

Troubles kept piling up, reaching a peak in 1891 when George Jones died on August 12. Although Jones’s son, Gilbert, was interning at the paper at the time, neither he nor the husband of Jones’s daughter, Henry L. Dyer, was interested in running the business. No other relatives stepped up either, so talk of selling the newspaper began - despite Jones’s will forbidding such action.

To save Raymond’s legacy and the forty-year-old company, editor-in-chief Charles Ransom Miller, editor Edward Cary, and correspondent George F. Spinney formed a company in April 1893 to manage The New-York Times. Two years later, during the economic crisis known as the Panic, the paper`s position weakened further.

There was no choice but to look for a buyer. Taking advantage of the publishing house’s poor condition, thirty-eight-year-old publisher and founder of the Southern Associated Press, Adolph Simon Ochs, purchased The New-York Times in August 1896. The paper was in terrible shape and poorly managed. It turned out that:

• the new building at 41 Park Row was rented
• the printing presses were ready for scrap
• the paper was losing $1,000 annually
• unpaid bills totaled $300,000

The Times’s opponents were rubbing their hands with glee, but Adolph Ochs didn’t give up. He set out to save the paper. A printer, typesetter, and above all a publisher, he was well-versed in journalism and had successfully revived the Chattanooga Times, which became a leading title in the South. Upon acquiring the Times, he immediately introduced several key changes:

• removed the hyphen from the newspaper’s name
• declared the Times a business newspaper
• renewed cooperation with the Associated Press
• launched new sections: Arrival of Buyers on September 20, 1896, and a year later, in November, a financial review that became a separate title: The Annalist
• expanded the reporting department and the readers` letters section
• established the Topics of Times column, run for years by Frederick Craig Mortimer
• refused to print advertisements he deemed dishonest
• lowered the price
• coined the slogan: All the News That’s Fit to Print, first published on October 25, 1896, and permanently placed on the front page starting February 10, 1897
• launched supplements: The New York Times Magazine (September 6, 1896) and The New York Times Book Review (October 10, 1896)

Despite criticism and disbelief from opponents, Ochs stayed the course. His goal wasn’t just to restore the Times to its former glory, but to make it a world-class newspaper. And he pursued that goal with unwavering determination.

The New York Times back on track

Entering the new century, The New York Times had found its footing. It presented itself as a reliable and serious daily. Its 7-column, 12-page layout included international and national news, economic and cultural updates, city and social affairs. Everything was sorted into sections and categories, with most ads illustrated. Business news was often accompanied by charts and diagrams, and financial reports were issued in weekly supplements.

The newspaper was clear, with a distinct typeface, and offered opinions and critical commentary when necessary. It never buried its head in the sand. In addition to offices in New York and Washington, there were bureaus in London, Geneva, and Mainz (Germany), staffed by correspondents. By the end of the 19th century, circulation had reached 76,220 copies (up from 25,726).

Adolph Ochs kept his promise. And to prove that the Times was thriving, he began preparations for a new headquarters. The cornerstone was laid in 1904, and on January 1, 1906, the Times Tower was officially opened with a New Year’s Eve ball.

Risky but profitable decisions

The first decade of the new century once again solidified the Times’s position in the New York media market. The new owner sometimes had surprising ideas.

• In January 1900, he invested in a portable printing press, allowing special editions to be printed directly at the World’s Fair in Paris from June to October.
• In 1901, he declared the paper an independent Democratic newspaper, despite supporting Republican candidate McKinley for president.
• He took out a loan from an arms dealer to finance the new headquarters (repaid by 1916).
• He signed a deal with Marconi Wireless Telegraph Co., allowing the Times to report first on major events (e.g., the Battle of Port Arthur in 1904, the sinking of SS Cymric in 1908).
• He initiated photo printing (1907).
• He created The morgue, the newspaper’s archive section, digitized as of September 17, 2007.
• He funded expeditions ignored by other newspapers - like Robert Peary’s North Pole journey (1908-1909) - and earned national and international acclaim from the resulting reports.

His risk-taking also paid off in staffing decisions. In 1904, he appointed Carr Vatal Van Anda, a journalist from The Sun, as managing editor. It was a brilliant move. The Times gained not only a top-notch journalist but also a scientist - Van Anda had studied physics and astronomy at Ohio University.


He ran the newsroom for three decades, excelling as a leader, journalist, and wordsmith - sometimes even a visionary. He launched the science column, promoted Einstein’s theory of relativity, reported on the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb (he could read hieroglyphs), and predicted the Titanic disaster.

He wasn’t a desk-bound editor. If he believed he could, he went where the action was. He once chased Glen H. Curtiss’s airplane by train - an historic one-day flight from Alabama to New York. A photo of that pursuit appeared on the Times front page for the first time on May 30, 1910. From then on, major events were illustrated with front-page photos.

NYT foundation

The paper was not only an information source but also cared for its readers, especially the poorest. On December 15, 1912, at Adolph S. Ochs’s initiative, the foundation The Hundred Neediest Cases was established to help the needy during the holiday season. Today, it continues as The New York Times Communities Fund.

Employees were also looked after. The newsroom and printing staff nearly doubled (to 600 people), prompting the purchase of new land for additional offices and printing space. Construction began in March 1912, and in August 1913, the complex at 229 West 43rd Street opened, serving the Times until 2007.

In April 1913, the paper expanded to an eighth column, and by July the following year, coverage focused on the war in Europe. For the first three years, the Times relied on its own correspondents in Germany and collaboration with The London Chronicle. Leading correspondents included Frideric W. Wilde and later Cyril Brown.

From April 1917, when the U.S. joined the war, coverage intensified. Although editors viewed Germans and Austrians as the main aggressors, they refrained from commentary and judgment. Reports were factual, supplemented with documents and high-quality photojournalism (rotogravure).

U.S. entry into the war brought some trouble. Costs rose - especially paper - and staff were drafted and killed in battle, changing the newsroom’s approach from objective to more subjective. One example was Charles Miller’s article supporting Austria’s peace initiative, which angered not only readers but also influential New Yorkers.

Gold medal and Pulitzer Prize

After the war, Van Anda sent a team of reporters to Germany to cover the situation and peace talks. To ensure smooth communication, 24 phone lines were installed. On June 10, 1918, The New York Times published the full text of the Treaty of Versailles.

Journalists’ hard work was recognized. For its articles, reports, and documents - and above all for its selfless and meritorious public service - on June 23, 1918, the Times won its first Pulitzer Gold Medal.

Although the U.S. did not join the League of Nations in January 1920, the Times supported its efforts and openly admitted it. The paper dedicated extensive coverage to the topic for several years.

After the tumultuous war years, peace returned to the newsroom, and Van Anda resumed science coverage. The solar eclipse of May 29, 1919, was used to introduce Albert Einstein and his work to the public. Two years later, journalist Alva Johnston participated in the American Association for the Advancement of Science and won a Pulitzer Prize (1923) for his article on isotopes and alpha particles.

Times journalists were no longer just political correspondents in foreign countries - they also joined scientific expeditions and explored the poles and new planets. The Times’ science section began to expand significantly.

Night editor takes command

In 1925, due to health issues, Carr Vattal Van Anda retired. He was recognized as the restorer and reformer of the Times. After thirty years of service, he left the paper in excellent condition.

• gross income exceeded $20,000,000
• the Wide World photo service employed 100 people and supplied images to many newspapers both domestically and internationally
• a superheterodyne receiver on the building at 229 West 43rd Street enabled contact with the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland
• events were reported from the tropical seas (William Beebe) and the stratosphere (Auguste Piccard)
• circulation reached 351,000 copies

After Van Anda’s departure, Adolph Ochs entrusted the editor-in-chief role to Frederick T. Birchall. Birchall started at the Times in 1905 as night editor. For 27 years, he was one of the directors of the news department, and from 1912, also deputy editor-in-chief. He held the top editorial position until 1931, then became head of the European bureau in Berlin.

Unlike his predecessor, Birchall had an interest in sports - especially horse racing. Unsurprisingly, he invested in expanding that section. Another major focus at the time was Soviet politics and Stalin’s regime. The third and most important issue for Americans was the Great Depression, which echoed across the globe. The stock market crash, unemployment, production drops, and economic collapse affected newspapers too. When recovery began in 1933, the first use of color appeared in The New York Times on April 23.

Mourning and the effects of the Great Depression

Two years later, the paper went into mourning. On April 8, 1935, Adolph Ochs died of a brain hemorrhage. He left his legacy to his son-in-law Arthur Hays Sulzberger, who became company president and director. Julius Ochs Adler (a nephew) became general manager. At the time, the editor-in-chief was Edwin Leland James.

Although the country and the Times were recovering from the Great Depression, its effects lingered. Circulation dropped, and other publications within the company posted losses. Sulzberger shut down several titles and merged others. To cut costs, all remaining papers - including the Times - switched to rotogravure photo printing.

The late 1930s once again brought global unrest. From 1936, civil war raged in Spain, and dangerous figures rose to power in Italy and Germany, as reported by correspondent Anne O’Hare McCormick. Due to these developments, Edwin James launched the Affairs in Europe column in February 1937. Not long after, Frank Kluckhohn joined McCormick, and their reports after the annexation of Austria and Czechoslovakia in 1938 became more dramatic.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., the public was skeptical of the New Deal reforms. At the Times, Sulzberger and editorial chief Charles Merz formed a strong professional and personal partnership. Although Merz had once criticized the paper relentlessly, after joining the newsroom, he and Sulzberger introduced key changes:

• unions were not allowed at the newspaper
• page layout was changed (war coverage took priority)
• editorials were separated from news and main stories
• a crusade began urging the U.S. to take responsibility for global affairs
• they opposed expanding the Supreme Court
• a women’s column News of Food and fashion features were introduced

The puzzle icon and International Edition

When World War II broke out, the paper added large headlines and reprints of speeches by European leaders. To offer readers some relief in these hard times, crosswords and a bestseller list debuted on February 15, 1942. Though it might seem minor, the first crossword appeared shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor - a pivotal date in U.S. history.


New York Times crosswords are more than puzzles - they’re a symbol of the paper. The first appeared in the Sunday Magazine, and today they’re printed daily - easiest on Monday, hardest on Sunday. Some are even created by top scientists. One of the most famous puzzles, by math professor Jeremiah Farrell, was published on November 5, 1996. Though Ochs had resisted this form of entertainment, Sulzberger eventually overcame that resistance and expanded the games section.

When the U.S. joined the war effort, Sulzberger offered to deliver the Times to troops in the Persian Gulf. The idea took off, and the paper gained the subtitle Overseas Weekly. Plastic printing plates were prepared in the U.S. and flown to Iran. A few months later, the paper reached Japan and Germany. This marked the birth of the New York Times International Edition, published until 1967 and revived in 2013 - it continues today.

In 1944, Sulzberger expanded the Times’ information services by acquiring radio station WQXR-FM. The editorial staff grew. Even as many staff went to war, the Times maintained the largest newsroom among New York papers. That same year, the Times won its second Pulitzer Gold Medal - this time for a study on the teaching of American history.

A year later, Sulzberger surprised readers again. In April 1945, during the United Nations Conference, a four-page facsimile edition of The New York Times was produced. The concept was repeated with paper negatives in February 1948 and distributed to 14 department stores and Columbia University`s School of Journalism.

Secret chronicler of the Manhattan Project

The joy of victory was felt across the globe, but for the U.S. and USSR, the war’s end was only the beginning. In June 1945, Times journalist William L. Laurence became the secret chronicler of the Manhattan Project - the atomic bomb’s final phase. He attended the test on July 16 but was prohibited from reporting it. Only after the Hiroshima attack did his articles appear.

Laurence also witnessed the bombing of Nagasaki, and his report ran on the front page the same day. One of the lead headlines read: Atom bomb loosed on Nagasaki. His article stated: On Thursday, August 9 - General Carl A. Spaatz announced the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, and crew members reported "good results". The military encouraged detailed articles, and Laurence notably omitted mention of radiation sickness. For his groundbreaking coverage, he won a Pulitzer Prize the following year.

In the postwar era, the Times followed two paths. One was marked by success, including a Pulitzer Prize in 1948 for coverage of the Pacific War; a 1953 special citation for the Review of the Week section led by Lester Markel; and in 1958, an award for initiative, continuity, and high quality in International Reporting. Individual journalists also excelled: Brooks Atkinson for his series on Russia (1947), Arthur Krock for an interview with President Truman (1951), Arthur Daley for his Sports of The Times column (1956), and James ("Scotty") Reston for a five-part analysis of how President Eisenhower’s illness affected the functioning of the federal executive branch (1957).

Eagle logo and communist suspicions

In 1951, a talented young Polish graphic designer named Bill Sokol joined the Times. He quickly rose through the ranks to become the newspaper’s art director. His witty and clever illustrations were featured in the advertising department (as the Times did not publish cartoons or caricatures), which brought a touch of lightness to the paper. Sokol held the position for 26 years, retiring in 1977.

In 1958, The New York Times unveiled its logo: an eagle based on a sculpture from 1740. The logo first appeared on the front page, next to the masthead, on June 4 and remained until March 15, 1972. The same logo was used on company cars, promotional items, and letterhead.

Another major thread for the Times was legal trouble and accusations before the Senate Subcommittee on Internal Security. Allegations of communist sympathies and associations began as early as 1957 when journalist Seymour Peck was convicted of contempt of Congress. The editor of the Sunday Times refused to name individuals with communist ties. Peck had been a member of the Communist Party from 1937 to 1947 and joined the Times in 1952. Despite the conviction, he kept his position at the paper, while McCarthy’s subcommittee continued investigating communism in New York’s press.

Elderly, ill (he had suffered a stroke), and worn down by accusations, Arthur Sulzberger (then 71) decided to retire, especially after tensions in the company rose following the dismissal of an employee. He handed over the reins to his son-in-law, Orvil Dryfoos, who had been on the company’s board since 1954 and had taken on leadership of the paper and publishing operations in 1958. He officially became president and publisher on April 25, 1961. Unfortunately, he didn’t enjoy the role for long - he died of heart failure on May 25, 1963. One of the key contributing factors to his death was the strike that began on December 8, 1962, and lasted 114 days (until March 31, 1963).

Printers’ strike and lawsuits shake the market

It all began in 1962 when Dryfoos introduced an automated printing press system. He wasn’t alone - rising newspaper production costs forced other publishers to follow suit. This created fear among technical staff over potential job losses. In December 1962, the New York Typographical Union declared a general strike. During this period, the Times staff shrank from 5,000 to 900 employees. Dryfoos negotiated and made promises, but it cost him his health. A vacation abroad didn’t help - his heart gave out. His successor was Adolph’s grandson and Arthur’s son, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, who would lead the paper for the next three decades.

Arthur was 37 when he became publisher and president of New York’s most popular newspaper. He already had a 12-year career in journalism behind him - working as a reporter, local and state news editor, and London correspondent. He brought in Turner Catledge (1964-1968) and later James Reston (1968-1969) as editors-in-chief. The media landscape in New York was strained after the strike, with only three major newspapers remaining: the Times, Daily News, and the New York Post. The pressure was on.

By the late 1960s, the younger Sulzberger found himself in court several times defending the paper and its journalists. The case of New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, a libel suit, dragged on for four years (1960-1964). Though the Times won, the costs were significant enough to force the end of the international edition. Another costly legal battle was over the Pentagon Papers - leaked documents about the Vietnam War. President Richard Nixon himself intervened, but the Times again prevailed in New York Times Co. v. United States, publishing the documents on June 13, 1971.

A modest commercial success came in 1964 with the merger of the daily and Sunday editions - previously separate - and the introduction of new thematic columns such as religion, science, and women’s issues. Finances also improved when circulation surged thanks to the headline Men Walk On Moon on July 21, 1969. The article by John Noble Wilford and a poem by Archibald MacLeish marked the beginning of the Times’ space age coverage, which included reports, commentary, and astronaut interviews that captivated readers.

Rosenthal’s roller coaster

The 1970s and ’80s at the Times were marked by Rosenthal’s roller coaster - two Pulitzer Prizes (1972, 1975) followed by a drop in circulation. Abraham Michael "Abe" Rosenthal, a Polish-born Canadian and New Yorker to the core, joined The New York Times in 1943 as a student. He became a campus correspondent, and the next year, a full reporter. From 1954, he worked as a correspondent in South Asia and from 1958, in Warsaw - until he was expelled in 1959 for his critical coverage of Władysław Gomułka.

For his Eastern European reporting, he received a Pulitzer Prize in 1960. Although German Wikipedia claims the editor-in-chief role was vacant from 1969 to 1976, it’s well known Rosenthal led the newsroom during that period. He officially took the helm for ten years starting in 1977. During his tenure, the Times avoided the Watergate scandal frenzy, instead focusing on the Huston Plan (surveillance). Still, readers sought Watergate coverage elsewhere.


The situation improved in 1975 with reports from Cambodia. Journalists Sydney H. Schanberg and Dith Pran risked their lives to stay and cover the horrors of the Khmer Rouge. They received a Pulitzer Prize, and their story was the basis for the film The Killing Fields. However, the paper was slow to cover the AIDS crisis - its first article on the epidemic appeared only in May 1983, two years after it became a major public concern.

Another strike and NYT parody

In 1978, all three major New York newspapers - including the Times - were hit by another general strike. From August 10 to November 5, office staff, drivers, and printers protested new labor rules. For 88 days, no New York dailies were printed. In their place, a parody of the Times hit the streets: Not The New York Times was released on October 16, 1978.

• it had 24 pages, 3 sections, 73 satirical articles, and 155 fake news briefs
• 24 spoof ads promoted things that didn’t exist
• its slogan was: All the news that’s not fit to print
• section headlines were printed in reverse
• the weather forecast read: "Mostly present today, still around tomorrow"
• the front page featured a cartoon - something the real Times never includes

The parody was created by satirists and writers: Christopher Cerf, George Plimpton, Freddy Plimpton, Rusty Unger, and Tony Hendra. A number of other writers and artists joined the project, including Times editor and reporter Glenn Collins. The joke was well received by readers and even Times journalists. The project was repeated several times. On November 12, 2008, a different parody, New York Times Special Edition, was released by the group The Yes Men. Another version appeared online on May 5, 2011, via The Final Edition.

On November 6, normal printing resumed. The strike caused $210 million in losses to both publishers and staff (unpaid wages). Still, the technological march wasn’t stopped. Computerization was flowing into all corners of journalism - not just in New York.

One million copies in circulation

In addition to covering hot topics and his aversion to some issues, Rosenthal changed the layout, policies, and workflow of the Times.

• he split the paper from two large sections into four
• each day featured a different themed section: Sports Monday on Monday, Science Times on Tuesday, Living on Wednesday, Home on Thursday, and Weekend on Friday
• he established a home section
• he introduced humorous columns
• he refused to publish any content about gays and lesbians

Despite Rosenthal ignoring important issues like AIDS, in October 1985 the Times reached a circulation of one million copies. However, Sulzberger, realizing technology was advancing and controversial topics needed to be addressed rather than ignored, began thinking about changes in key positions. Fresh blood and a more modern perspective were needed.

Changes at The New York Times began in October 1986, when Max Frankel replaced Rosenthal, and concluded in January 1992 when Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr. succeeded his father. Although Frankel and Sulzberger Jr. were two decades apart in age, they understood each other well. Both aimed to modernize the 140-year-old newspaper.

By the 1980s, journalists had traded typewriters for keyboards, and the next decade welcomed digitization. Recognizing the direction of the industry, on May 1, 1993, several Times sections began using color, and on January 22, 1996, the first version of the website www.nytimes.com was launched.

A year later, on September 25, The New York Times went public, and on October 16, for the first time, a color photo (of baseball player Tony Fernandez) appeared on the front page. This visual update marked a shift in the paper`s image. From that point, the Times had six sections, became fully colored (one of the last to do so), and changed its editorial tone - shedding the nickname The Gray Lady, at least in appearance.

A dignified and colorful rival of the digital age

Successes and reforms after 1994 belonged to the next editor-in-chief, Joseph Salem Lelyveld, who was tasked with ushering the Times into a new century. After the New Year’s edition on January 1, 2000, the Times returned to its daily routine. Entering the new era, it presented itself with dignity and color - often in tension with its digital counterpart.

Lelyveld took a cautious stance toward the sensationalism of the online Times. This was evident with the Lewinsky-Clinton scandal and the death of Princess Diana. However, the March 2000 cyberattacks and the anthrax scare in 2001 could not be ignored - and then came September 11, 2001, which changed everything. That day, 300 Times journalists were on the scene. The next day’s special edition featured 66 stories that earned the Times its fourth Pulitzer Prize in the Public Service category. The photos by Paul Hosefros also became historic.

Since the Times began printing photos, it paid great attention to this section. Even after selling its photo agency, new departments were created, and photographers remained on staff. Before Hosefros, the lead photographers were John Morris, Bill Sauro, and Neil Boenzi, while the master of political photojournalism was George Tames from the Washington bureau. The torch was passed to Fred Conrad.

That same tragic year, 2001, Lelyveld moved to head the foreign desk, and Howell Raines took over in New York - just in time for the Times’ 150th anniversary. The celebration was scheduled for September, but for obvious reasons, it was more modest than the paper deserved. Still, there was a special edition, ceremonies, flowers, and a commemorative publication, The New York Times PAGE ONE, which chronicled key events covered by the paper over 400 pages.

The shadow of scandal over the Times

Unfortunately, after the fake article scandal involving reporter Jayson Blair, in May 2003 Raines stepped down and was replaced by Bill Keller. Keller introduced several significant changes and steered the paper through further scandals and a new economic crisis that began in 2007.

• he focused on growing digital platforms (Times Reader)
• he introduced paid digital subscriptions
• he launched the paper’s first live broadcast (2004 presidential debate)
• he defended the newsroom during the 2005 Plame wiretapping scandal
• he launched the Times’ first podcasts (April 2006)
• he oversaw the move to a new headquarters at 620 Eighth Avenue (2007)
• he launched Times apps for iPad and tablets (2010)

There were successes - but also failures. Internal leadership clashes led to financial troubles. The company began selling off assets (buildings, a jet, stakes in other ventures, and regional papers). Loans, debt, and falling ad revenues led to layoffs - 100 business reporters were let go, and others were placed on unpaid leave. Salaries were cut.

In mid-2011, Bill Keller resigned, and for the first time, a woman - Jill Abramson - took the editor-in-chief role. Abramson, with nearly 20 years of journalism experience, had joined the Times in 1997 at the Washington bureau, where she quickly rose. In September 2003, she moved to New York.

The female face of The New York Times

Upon taking the helm, Abramson prioritized promoting women in the newsroom and leadership roles. She introduced more articles and columns on race and gender. Like her predecessors, she led investigations into government and corporate corruption. During her tenure, no major scandals erupted, the online operation stabilized, revenue grew, and the paper won eight Pulitzer Prizes.

In June 2012, the Times launched its Chinese-language website. On December 20, it published its first multimedia feature, blending long-form storytelling with interactive graphics, animated simulations, and aerial footage. Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek was written by John Branch.

Only her conflict with newly appointed CEO Mark Thompson clouded her otherwise positive tenure. Thompson had a very different editorial vision, leading to clashes. As a result, Sulzberger Jr. removed Abramson from her position in May 2014 - a move that stirred controversy, though Abramson declined to comment. She was succeeded by Dean P. Baquet, the first African American editor-in-chief in the paper’s history.

Baquet, a former investigative reporter, was attuned to issues of inequality - especially in politics. During his tenure, Donald Trump, a colorful figure in U.S. politics, became a frequent subject of the Times. Under Baquet, the #MeToo movement gained momentum. In October 2017, the Times published an article by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey exposing sexual abuse by Harvey Weinstein.

Open hostility toward Trump - and vice versa

In that same year, in December, Sulzberger Jr. stepped down as publisher and handed the reins to his son, Arthur Gregg. A year later, the Times began a crusade against Trump’s presidency. It started with the anonymous September op-ed I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration, and ended in October 2019 with federal agencies canceling their newspaper subscriptions. During that time, nearly 300 defamation lawsuits were filed against the newspaper.


Banquet’s tenure wasn’t just about Trump matters. As editor-in-chief, he also oversaw digital media, and that period marked several notable milestones.

• 18 Pulitzer Prizes
• acquisition of the product review site The Wirecutter (2016)
• launch of The New York Times in Spanish
• launch of the first news podcast, The Daily (January 30, 2017)
• launch of the Oak CMS (content management system) (2017)
• introduction of the Overlooked project: obituaries for notable women and people of color whose deaths had been ignored since 1851 (March 8, 2018)
• discontinuation of political cartoons in the international edition (July 2019)
• The 1619 Project, commemorating the 400th anniversary of slavery in America and the arrival of the first slave ship (August 2019)
• due to the pandemic, photos disappeared from the front page and were replaced with charts, data, and COVID-19 coverage, including live reporting (March 2020)
• launch of the newsletter The Morning (May 3, 2020)
• testing of The New York Audio app (October 2021)
• acquisition of the sports site The Athletic (January 6, 2022)

In September 2021, Baquet turned 65 - the executive age limit. That didn’t stop him from continuing journalistic work. He stayed on and became the head of an investigative journalism fellowship program at the Times. As of June 22, 2022, the current executive editor is Joseph F. Kahn.

Kahn took over a 171-year-old newspaper with 5,900 employees, printed in broadsheet format. It reaches 230 countries and territories and has more than 11 million subscribers. It operates 31 foreign bureaus and two in the U.S. (New York and Washington). It offers 10 apps for iPhones, tablets, and the web, 22 newsletters, and a suite of podcasts.

The paper has published recipes since the 1850s and has featured a dedicated food column for over 80 years. It’s active on social media and is included as a supplement in several European newspapers (La Repubblica, El País, Le Monde, and others). Its motto has remained unchanged: All the news that’s fit to print. The newspaper’s mission is:

Helping people understand the world and engage with it through independent journalism based on deep reporting, expert insight, and reliable analysis.

Timeline of The New York Times:

• 1851, August 5 - Raymond, Jones & Company, Inc. founded
• 1851, September 18 - first issue of the New York Daily Times published
• 1852 - first supplement, Times for California
• 1857, September 14 - renamed to The New-York Times
• 1858 - moved into its own building
• 1861, April 20 - launch of the Sunday edition, The Sunday Times
• 1869 - board of directors established
• 1884 - broke alliance with the Republican Party
• 1889 - another headquarters move
• 1896, August - Adolph Simon Ochs purchases The New-York Times
• 1896, October - first appearance of the motto "All the news that’s fit to print"
• 1897, February - motto permanently added to front page
• 1897, November - launch of financial review, The Annalist
• 1901 - The New York Times supports Democrats
• 1906, January 1 - Times Tower opens
• 1910, May 30 - first photo on the front page
• 1913, August - West 43rd Street 229 office complex opens, used until 2007
• 1918, June 23 - first Pulitzer Prize (Gold Medal)
• 1933, April 23 - first color used in the newspaper
• 1937, February - launch of Affairs in Europe column
• 1942 - large headlines introduced
• 1942, February 15 - first crossword puzzle
• 1943 - international edition established
• 1944 - becomes owner of radio station WQXR-FM
• 1945 - facsimile edition printed for the UN Conference
• 1945, June 10 - reporter Laurence joins the secret Manhattan Project
• 1951 - newspaper celebrates 100 years
• 1958, June 4 - new eagle logo introduced, used until March 15, 1972
• 1962, December 8 - 1963, March 31 - major NYC newspaper strike
• 1964 - daily and Sunday editions merged
• 1970, September 21 - Op-Ed section launched
• 1971, June 13 - Times publishes the "Pentagon Papers"
• 1975, April - powerful Cambodia coverage
• 1978, August 10 - November 5 - second general strike
• 1978, October 16 - satire issue published: "Not The New York Times"
• 1983, May 25 - first AIDS coverage
• 1993, May 1 - some sections printed in color
• 1996, January 22 - website launched
• 1997, September 25 - Times goes public
• 1997, October 16 - first color photo on front page
• 2000, March - hacker attack on Times website
• 2001 - 150th anniversary
• 2003, May - Times accused of plagiarism
• 2004, August - first issue of STYLE magazine
• 2004, September 30 - first live broadcast (presidential debate)
• 2006, April - first podcast
• 2007 - new headquarters opens
• 2010 - Times app released for iPad and tablets
• 2012, June - launch of Chinese-language website
• 2012, December 20 - first multimedia story published
• 2016, February - launch of Spanish-language Times
• 2017 - Oak CMS introduced
• 2017, October - Times leads #MeToo coverage
• 2018, March 8 - Overlooked project begins
• 2018, September - Times escalates anti-Trump coverage
• 2019, July - international edition drops cartoons
• 2019, August - launch of The 1619 Project
• 2020, March 2 - live COVID-19 reporting begins
• 2020, May 3 - The Morning newsletter launched
• 2021, October - audio app testing begins
• 2022, January 6 - acquisition of The Athletic
• 2024 - 11 million subscribers

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