All the news that’s fit to print is a promise The New York Times has made its readers for decades, a promise it keeps consistently well.
Perhaps that slogan will see some rewording in the months ahead.
In its latest Insider’s Weekly Wrap, the Times announces “a major shift in newsroom thinking”. Indeed, the daily “Page One” news meeting will have a new focus on the digital platforms, instead of the next day's print edition.
I can’t overemphasize the importance of this move for the globe’s most respected news brand. We have heard the phrase “digital first” often in the past two years. When The New York Times makes it a point to apply this philosophy for how it processes news, we know that newsroom everywhere will take notice.
At the heart of the Times’ decision is the issue of “frequency”, one we discuss often in this blog. The Times’ Insiders’ message states that The Times's report will be less tethered to print deadlines.
As a loyal reader of the Times across platforms, I will be studying how the changes affect the Times report. I will be recommending my Columbia University students to monitor the changes. For the industry, perhaps one of the most demonstrative examples of when digital first is more than a catchy phrase for titles of seminar presentations and becomes a functional philosophy. The deadline clocks are melting——Dali style. The editors thinking now and constant updates, and print only a part of the media quartet, maintaining its place but not dominating the activities of the newsroom.
Long overdue!
Complete text from Insiders’ Weekly Wrap
Hello Insiders,
Change is in the air at The Times. This week, Dean Baquet, the executive editor, announced a major shift in newsroom thinking – the daily “Page One” news meeting will have a new focus on the digital platforms, instead of the next day's print edition.
In a memo to the staff, Mr. Baquet said the changes would ensure that The Times's report was less tethered to print deadlines. Now, desks from culture to international “will compete for the best digital, rather than print, real estate.”
It's a small, but significant step, and good news for today's readers, who are increasingly looking to mobile and social media platforms for The Times's report.
So, here's to getting you all of our best stories, earlier in the day. For now, enjoy these highlights from Insider.
Read more about it
Dean Baquet: NYT will retire system of pitching stories for the print page 1
http://www.poynter.org/news/mediawire/321637/dean-baquet-nyt-will-retire-system-of-pitching-stories-for-the-print-page-1/?utm_source=API%27s+Need+to+Know+newsletter&utm_campaign=331591c9ed-Need_to_Know_February_20_20152_20_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e3bf78af04-331591c9ed-31701869
At Long last The New York times is thinking about digital first?