The Future is Now for the NY Times
There's a certain publication that has had the ability to alter and shape events. Whether it be through its aggressive journalism, or scathing editorials, the New York Times has always been an influential publication. But with a staggering 14% decrease in circulation over 11 years (as of 2016), it seems that other publications are beginning to take precedent over this most iconic outlet. Take for example The Washington Post’s recent acquisition of the Times’ printing plant in Albuquerque which will only further decrease their circulation for this important paper in the future.
Today, I'm going to tell you about what makes The New York Times so special and how they're going ahead with their groundbreaking projects despite waning readership numbers.
In the most recent re-acquisition of their printing press, the New York Times has ignited a great deal of controversy with the announcement. While other newspapers may have been quick to make this decision, The New York Times seems to be taking a different tact. Rather than cutting back on their current workforce and moving into a more efficient format as so many other media outlets are doing right now, they are instead doubling down on their original business plan. With the new printing plant in Albuquerque, they intend to continue printing their news in the same traditional fashion that they have always used before. What's more remarkable is how this new approach will allow them to do so without even cutting any of their current workers.
A decade or so ago, The New York Times would have had to undertake a massive layoff in order to pay for the new printing equipment. This is because the printing press was becoming less and less efficient each year as more and more publications used it. But thanks to the new industrial printer that they have acquired, they will be able to continue their business as usual with no layoffs across the board.
As you can see from the picture above, these new printers are incredibly efficient compared with their older counterparts. This will not only save The New York Times a great deal of money in the months to come, but it will also reduce their printing costs significantly. In a time when traditional journalism is under attack from all sides, the fact that they are able to continue their services without cuts or layoffs is nothing short of revolutionary.
The New York Times was one of the first publications to offer their full content online as well. But of course they had to be careful; they didn't want people going around pirating all of their content, so they made sure that anyone who wanted to read it had to subscribe first. And even then, you could only read up to 20 articles online per month before having to pay for more access.
But it's not just their web content that deserves praise. Their print paper is just as innovative and groundbreaking as they are. The article above, which was written by a young reporter named Peter Baker, is a perfect example of the kind of journalism that they produce on a daily basis. In the article, Baker focuses on 3 major issues in the country today: the Saudi-led war in Yemen, Saudi Arabia’s net income for 2015, and how President Trump has made it more difficult for people to get health insurance. His writing is both intelligent and well-written, but it's also incredibly engaging.
Not only is Baker's article a great display of traditional journalism, but it is also the first of its kind on The New York Times. This particular article was published in the newest addition to their paper, called "The Weekly." Where most newspapers would have simply made this article a regular part of their print edition, The New York Times has opted for something different. Instead of including this particular piece in their main section, they have decided to make it a part of this new section which will allow for more in-depth reporting.
Now, allow me to explain what makes The New York Times so special. Put simply, it's their commitment to innovation. For example, recently they began using a new type of ink in their printing press which has greatly improved the quality of the printed paper. But as I explained before, this has also led to some major cost-savings over the long run.
Some people have criticized The New York Times for not being as modern as they could be. They claim that the paper is too long and that there are sections that simply don’t need to be there anymore with technology going mobile and all of that. But it is important to remember that The New York Times has always been a traditional sort of publication. Instead of trying to change their brand and fit in with the ever-changing landscape of media, they're sticking to what they've always done. And they're doing it better than anyone else out there.
The New York Times knows how important having a well-written publication is for them. Rather than just trying to give their readers the bare minimum, they continue to adapt and change in order to provide them with the best reading experience possible. In an age where everything is becoming more and more electronic, this simply amazes me.
As a reader myself, I would much rather have a well-written article than a bunch of short stories that are just meant to grab my attention. I also prefer longer articles to short ones. Of course most articles can be read in under 10 minutes if you're reading carefully and taking notes. But you often miss out on important details when an article is too short. The best episodes of Big Brother are always the longer ones, aren't they?
So why does The New York Times choose to make their print publication better quality than anyone else's? It's not about being politically correct, it's not about advertising revenue, and it's certainly not about trying to keep up with the other newspapers in this country.
No, their main priority is to make sure that they get their readers the best possible product imaginable. They do so by staying true to their roots and not conforming to the preferences of the latest fad. It's sad to say, but many publications nowadays would rather make a few extra bucks from online ads than provide you with a well-written piece. The New York Times is one of the few media outlets in this country that actually cares about providing you with quality content above all else.
Conclusion
The New York Times is not the only publication in this country that is committed to quality journalism. CNN, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal all have great features that keep their readers entertained. But The New York Times is one of the few newspapers that doesn't care about gathering as much revenue as they can.
The New York Times has shown time and time again that they will stick to what made them successful in the first place even if it means losing a bunch of subscribers or lower ad revenue. Even though they aren't growing their subscriber base at the rate they used to, they are still doing very well in terms of providing quality content to their readers.