Why is the paper of record failing so absymally ahead of the 2024 election when our literal democracy is at stake? Journalist James Fallows dissects what's wrong with the NYT and offers remedies.
It’s because NYT stopped being a news organization to become a data company—clicks and email hooks replaced integrity and service. I worked there for 12 years and saw it happen in real time.
The NYT has changed its editor staff, downsized it's journalists and become cowardly in the face of dropping readership numbers. It's a no-brainer. I canceled my subscription when they were the first out of the gate to crucify Joe Biden for casualties incurred in the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Waj - hard core long time democracy-ish listener here (also Woke AF Patreon, New Abnormal devotee), thanks so much for this post! We at the Media and Democracy Project are doing all we can to call this ish out on the daily, we just published an Open Letter to US Newsrooms demanding a pivot to Pro-Democracy 2024 Election Coverage and would love to connect with you! What do our Pro-Democracy Election Coverage Guidelines ask of newsrooms?
1) Cover elections like they matter more than sports scores.
The folks at the NYT haven’t yet realized what’s waiting for them in terms of media censorship and banning, and persecution of journalists. They think it will all just happen elsewhere.
I read James Fallows documentation of Trump’s actions and words before the 2016 election. Too bad no one is meticulously documenting to that extent this time around. Of course, there is too much out of ordinary decency going on in all directions by Trump that it is impossible for any one person to even attempt such a project. So much is going undocumented, unpunished, under-discussed. Even all our outrage is barely touching the tip of the iceberg of noise and insanity.
Thank you for pointing this out. I cancelled my subscription earlier for the absymal lack of coverage of this proto-fascist. Thankfully there are many fine substacks to read. Thank you Jeff Tiedrich for the laughs.
As a long time proofreader, besides copy editor and writer, I was flabbergasted to read the “fact checking” garbage put out by the paper of record. You mentioned one they supposedly felt was misleading. I call BS!
Great discussion - I've been gnashing my teeth about the NYT for a while (and a lot lately). It's affirming to hear the insights and theories from you both.
Thank you, Waj! I have been following you for a while but didn’t know about your substack- appreciate your interview with James Fallow- very informative!
I wonder how much of NY times is actually Human writing?
I got kicked off msn for questioning the AI appearance of Their version of news. which is odd, because there are many many really offensive comments on MSN. mine was just pointing out that humans are preferred as writers.
I highly doubt many humans are actually involved in printed news these days.
It’s because NYT stopped being a news organization to become a data company—clicks and email hooks replaced integrity and service. I worked there for 12 years and saw it happen in real time.
The NYT has changed its editor staff, downsized it's journalists and become cowardly in the face of dropping readership numbers. It's a no-brainer. I canceled my subscription when they were the first out of the gate to crucify Joe Biden for casualties incurred in the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Waj - hard core long time democracy-ish listener here (also Woke AF Patreon, New Abnormal devotee), thanks so much for this post! We at the Media and Democracy Project are doing all we can to call this ish out on the daily, we just published an Open Letter to US Newsrooms demanding a pivot to Pro-Democracy 2024 Election Coverage and would love to connect with you! What do our Pro-Democracy Election Coverage Guidelines ask of newsrooms?
1) Cover elections like they matter more than sports scores.
2) Make threats to democracy clear
3) Protect Americans from disinformation
Sign our open letter to news execs here: https://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/2024-election-coverage - signatories include Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Mark Jacob, Nancy MacLean, and others -
THANK YOU. That’s it. That’s all. Thank you to you and all serious journalists who keep helping the public and sounding the alarm.
Waj and James, in addition to our recent demand for Pro-Democracy 2024 Election Coverage, the Media and Democracy Project ALSO called in January 2024 for the New York Times to REINSTATE the Public Editor! https://mediaanddemocracyproject.substack.com/p/media-and-democracy-project-asks
The folks at the NYT haven’t yet realized what’s waiting for them in terms of media censorship and banning, and persecution of journalists. They think it will all just happen elsewhere.
I read James Fallows documentation of Trump’s actions and words before the 2016 election. Too bad no one is meticulously documenting to that extent this time around. Of course, there is too much out of ordinary decency going on in all directions by Trump that it is impossible for any one person to even attempt such a project. So much is going undocumented, unpunished, under-discussed. Even all our outrage is barely touching the tip of the iceberg of noise and insanity.
Don’t agree w your guest. He’s too kind.
Who really OWNS the nytimes???
Who really OWNS all main stream media??
Cancel, cancel, cancel all main stream media &
Stop patronizing their advertisers.
Thank you for pointing this out. I cancelled my subscription earlier for the absymal lack of coverage of this proto-fascist. Thankfully there are many fine substacks to read. Thank you Jeff Tiedrich for the laughs.
As a long time proofreader, besides copy editor and writer, I was flabbergasted to read the “fact checking” garbage put out by the paper of record. You mentioned one they supposedly felt was misleading. I call BS!
I really enjoyed the program. I will be sure to tune in again.
I'm ready to cancel the NY Times. Where are my old favorite journalists? Why are they Fox-News-style now?
Great discussion - I've been gnashing my teeth about the NYT for a while (and a lot lately). It's affirming to hear the insights and theories from you both.
Thank you, Waj! I have been following you for a while but didn’t know about your substack- appreciate your interview with James Fallow- very informative!
I wonder how much of NY times is actually Human writing?
I got kicked off msn for questioning the AI appearance of Their version of news. which is odd, because there are many many really offensive comments on MSN. mine was just pointing out that humans are preferred as writers.
I highly doubt many humans are actually involved in printed news these days.