The New York Times is a world-renowned daily newspaper published in the United States. It has been a trusted source of news and information for over 150 years and is one of the most widely-read newspapers in the world. Each day, the paper provides readers with breaking news, in-depth coverage and analysis of current events, and thoughtful commentary from award-winning writers and editors. The New York Times also offers an online subscription with access to its digital content, including games, cooking, and more.
The New York Times is a daily newspaper based in New York City. It has a worldwide readership of 840,000 paid print subscribers and 6 million paid digital subscribers. The paper has won 132 Pulitzer Prizes and is owned by The New York Times Company. It has been governed by the Sulzberger family since 1896 and is currently headed by A. G. Sulzberger, the fifth generation of the family to lead the paper. It has a variety of sections which include News, Editorials/Opinions-Columns/Op-Ed, Business, Sports, Arts, Science, Styles, and more. On Sundays, there are additional sections such as the Sunday Review and Magazine. The editorial pages of The New York Times are known to have liberal positions.
It was founded as the New York Daily Times on September 18, 1851, by journalist and politician Henry Jarvis Raymond and former banker George Jones. It was sold for a penny and aimed to address various speculations on its purpose. The paper promised to be Conservative in all cases where it thought Conservatism essential to the public good, and Radical in everything which may seem to require radical treatment and reform.
In 1852, started a western division called The Times of California. In 1857, the newspaper shortened its name to The New York Times. On April 21, 1861, it began publishing a Sunday edition for daily coverage of the Civil War. During the New York City draft riots in 1863, co-founder Henry Raymond used Gatling guns to protect the main office of The New York Times from rioters.
In 1869, George Jones took over as publisher of The New York Times. The newspaper published a series of exposés on William Tweed that led to the end of his control over city politics. In the 1880s, The Times became more politically independent and analytical, supporting Grover Cleveland in his first presidential campaign.
Adolph Ochs took control in 1896. He coined the slogan “All The News That’s Fit To Print” and encouraged international scope, circulation, and reputation. In 1904, the newspaper received its first on-the-spot wireless telegraph transmission from a naval battle. They also began air delivery to Philadelphia in 1910 and trans-Atlantic delivery to London by dirigible balloon in 1919.
In 1920, Walter Lippmann and Charles Merz published a study about the New York Times’ coverage of the Russian Revolution. They found that the newspaper’s news stories were not based on facts, but instead were determined by the hopes of those who created them. The paper reported events that never happened and atrocities that didn’t exist and said 91 times that the Bolshevik regime was close to falling apart.
It began expanding in the 1940s, with the introduction of the crossword and fashion section. In 1946, an international edition was added. After two years as publisher, Orvil Dryfoos died in 1963 and was succeeded by his brother-in-law, Arthur Ochs “Punch” Sulzberger, who continued to expand the paper until 1992.
The 1964 libel case New York Times Co. v. Sullivan established the “actual malice” standard for press reports about public figures to be considered defamatory or libelous. This standard requires the plaintiff to prove that the publisher of the statement knew it was false or acted in reckless disregard for its truth or falsity. This high burden of proof makes it difficult for public figure defamation or libel cases to succeed.