The New York Times is a faded mural.
The New York Times used to be the home of journalistic excellence — the undisputed “newspaper of record” leading the charge of truth and integrity for over 170 years. But these days? Something feels different. Maybe it’s the dizzying effects of the bite-sized social content age or the polarisation infecting everything it touches. The Times has badly lost its way.
Yes, it still houses some of journalism’s mightiest talent churning out compelling stories. But glance at the gutless op-eds, the social issue coverage, even the scandals rocking its own newsroom. Read the comments or talk to subscribers. To put it mildly, the venerable Gray Lady appears a little less stately, diminished — frail even — under the weight of all that legacy.
While it’s foolhardy to expect any institution to remain frozen in time, The Times has drifted too far from the path — thumbnailing complex issues into orthodox narratives framed for an increasingly narrow audience. Outdated perspectives are substituted for any fearless scrutiny of power. Reactionary voices claim precious column space, rationalised under a hollow banner of “both-sidesism.” Standards censoring dishonesty have slackened to boost clicks and shares. Room for debate has narrowed. Trust has frayed. As Anil Dash puts it, The New York Times has become Facebook.
