The Old Gray Lady

New-York Daily Times, September 18, 1851.

The New York Times in a face saving Friday letter to its readers as a consequence of the "late Tuesday night" election results, allegedly "aim[s] to "rededicate [themselves] to... report ... America and the world honestly."

The NYT wrote "late Tuesday night, our newsroom turned on a dime and did what it has done for nearly two years — cover the 2016 election with agility and creativity," unfortunately the NYT no longer considers facts and accurately quintessential to journalism, had it done so it would have been unnecessary to turn on a dime to accommodate the "late Tuesday night" reality!

"The Gray Lady" then blamed Trump’s "sheer unconventionality" for the NYT's and other news outlet's failure to estimate his support, essentially conceding that the NYT is no longer a bastion of Truth amid other news outlets.

While pledging to "hold power to account, impartially and unflinchingly" it exempted itself, and offered this unmerited "weasel word" commentary "We believe we reported on both candidates fairly during the presidential campaign. You can rely on The New York Times to bring the same fairness, the same level of scrutiny, the same independence to our coverage of the new president."

The NYT which was once known for presenting "fact" as "fact" and signing "opinion" as "opinion" concluded with this contextually ludicrous sales pitch, once again spurning the word "factual" : "We cannot deliver the independent, original journalism for which we are known without the loyalty of our subscribers."

Cursory inspection of the internally conflicted letter suggests the authorship of a journalistically challenged college intern, however, the signatories are Arthur O. Sulzberger Jr. Publisher, and Dean Baquet Executive Editor.

The NYT's failure to maintain the journalist standards of truth, accuracy, objectivity, fairness and public accountability, has caused truth to fall in every street in America.

"And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment" (Isaiah 59:14-15).

The classic document appended below must be required reading for every student of journalism, for it chronicles the demise of "The [Old] Gray Lady"

 To our readers,

When the biggest political story of the year reached a dramatic and unexpected climax late Tuesday night, our newsroom turned on a dime and did what it has done for nearly two years — cover the 2016 election with agility and creativity. After such an erratic and unpredictable election there are inevitable questions: Did Donald Trump’s sheer unconventionality lead us and other news outlets to underestimate his support among American voters? What forces and strains in America drove this divisive election and outcome? Most important, how will a president who remains a largely enigmatic figure actually govern when he takes office? As we reflect on this week’s momentous result, and the months of reporting and polling that preceded it, we aim to rededicate ourselves to the fundamental mission of Times journalism. That is to report America and the world honestly, without fear or favor, striving always to understand and reflect all political perspectives and life experiences in the stories that we bring to you. It is also to hold power to account, impartially and unflinchingly. We believe we reported on both candidates fairly during the presidential campaign. You can rely on The New York Times to bring the same fairness, the same level of scrutiny, the same independence to our coverage of the new president and his team. We cannot deliver the independent, original journalism for which we are known without the loyalty of our subscribers. We want to take this opportunity, on behalf of all Times journalists, to thank you for that loyalty.

Sincerely, Arthur O. Sulzberger Jr. Publisher
Dean Baquet Executive Editor

By The New York Times - ProQuest Database, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29474845