Time Radical NY Times Has Eyes To See?

It’s been posited the failing NY Times can be “saved” by its readers. But, can it? Short answer: “No.” That’s because assumed reason given for hope is same reason for skepticism: Most subscribers want balanced coverage, radical staff doesn’t.

Columnist James Freeman recently wrote “There’s fresh evidence that the newspaper’s customers are more reasonable than its writers.” Therefore, he concluded, that while “Some consumers looking for traditional standards of journalism have given up on the New York Times … reform is still possible at the newspaper.” Freeman curiously reaches this conclusion despite explaining “the Gray Lady’s modern habit of catering to a fiercely ideological slice of the reading public seems to be driven more by its employees than by its customers.” Exactly. The columnist goes on to wonder “why such readers are still subscribing is a question for another day, but as long as they’re paid up they might be able to exert a positive influence.”

Hence, the cynic’s original response to Freeman’s optimism: Don’t hold your breath. Once ensconced in positions of power, die hard Ideologues seldom if ever admit to their errors. Consider, as just one glaring example, the EV mandate fiasco & tanking sales, then, production as the product isn’t living up to their promise while the wayward policy behind it doesn’t budge … and, despite nonpaying customers clearly sending the signal that both the product and policy stink.

Davd Soul