The New York Times
The Gray Lady, a U.S.
The New York Times is a newspaper based in Manhattan, New York City, covering domestic, national, and international news, as well as opinion pieces and reviews. One of the longest-running newspapers in the United States, it serves as a newspaper of record. It had 11.88 million total subscribers and 11.3 million digital subscribers, both the highest figures for any U.S. newspaper by a wide margin, including 580,000 print subscribers. The paper is published by the New York Times Company, chaired by the Ochs-Sulzberger family since 1896; the current chairman and publisher is A. G. Sulzberger. Its headquarters are at The New York Times Building in Midtown Manhattan. Founded in 1851 as the conservative New-York Daily Times, it gained national recognition in the 1870s for its aggressive coverage of corrupt politician Boss Tweed. After the Panic of 1893, Adolph Ochs acquired a controlling interest. His son-in-law, Arthur Hays Sulzberger, succeeded him in 1935 and expanded European coverage. Arthur Ochs Sulzberger became publisher in 1963, adapting to industry changes. The Times was central to the 1964 Supreme Court case *New York Times Co. v. Sullivan*, which limited public officials’ ability to sue for defamation. In 1971, it published the Pentagon Papers, leading to the landmark *New York Times Co. v. United States* decision affirming First Amendment protections. The paper began its digital shift in the 1980s, launching nytimes.com in 1996, and has since moved primarily online amid the newspaper industry’s decline. It maintains regional bureaus on six continents and publishes *The New York Times Magazine*, *International Edition*, and *Book Review*, along with television series, podcasts like *The Daily*, and games. It has won 135 Pulitzer Prizes since 1918, the most of any publication, though it has faced controversies. A 2025 Pew study found 56% of its readers hold a bachelor’s degree, the highest among daily newspapers surveyed. It is sometimes called “The Gray Lady,” a nickname referencing newsprint color and its opposition to yellow journalism.
- founders
- Henry Jarvis Raymond, George Jones, Edward B. Wesley
- headquarters
- The New York Times Building, Midtown Manhattan
- type
- Daily newspaper
- subscribers
- 11.88 million total (as of August 2025)
- known_for
- Newspaper of record; coverage of Boss Tweed; Pentagon Papers; New York Times Co. v. Sullivan
Lore & Background
The New York Times is a daily newspaper based in Manhattan, New York City, and is one of the longest-running newspapers in the United States, serving as a national newspaper of record. It covers domestic, national, and international news, along with opinion pieces and reviews. Often called "The Gray Lady," a nickname referencing the color of newsprint and its historical opposition to yellow journalism, the Times is published by the New York Times Company, which has been chaired by the Ochs-Sulzberger family since 1896. Its headquarters are at The New York Times Building in Midtown Manhattan. The paper maintains regional bureaus staffed with journalists across six continents and has expanded into other publications, including The New York Times Magazine, The New York Times International Edition, and The New York Times Book Review, as well as television series, podcasts like *The Daily*, and games through The New York Times Games. It has won the Pulitzer Prize 135 times since 1918, more than any other publication. As of recent data, the Times had 11.88 million total subscribers and 11.3 million online subscribers, the highest figures for any U.S. newspaper by a significant margin, including 580,000 print subscribers. A 2025 Pew Research Center study found that 56% of its audience holds at least a bachelor’s degree, the highest proportion among daily newspapers surveyed. The paper has been involved in landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases, including *New York Times Co. v. Sullivan* (1964), which limited public officials’ ability to sue for defamation, and *New York Times Co. v. United States* (1971), which affirmed the right to publish the Pentagon Papers. It was founded in 1851 as the conservative New-York Daily Times by Henry Jarvis Raymond and George Jones, with financier Edward B. Wesley providing half the starting capital. Under Adolph Ochs, who gained control in 1896, the Times reported on the sinking of the Titanic and Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity.
Reader's Guide
The New York Times's significance lies in its role as a newspaper of record, documenting major historical events from the Civil War to the Vietnam War. Its coverage of Boss Tweed established investigative journalism standards, while its legal battles in the Supreme Court shaped First Amendment protections for the press. The paper's adaptation to digital technology, including its early launch of nytimes.com and its current subscriber base of 11.88 million, reflects its ability to navigate the decline of print media. Its nickname 'The Gray Lady' references its opposition to yellow journalism and the color of newsprint. A 2025 Pew study found that 56% of its audience holds at least a bachelor's degree, the highest among daily newspapers surveyed.
Did You Know?
- As of August 2025, it had 11.88 million total subscribers, the highest for any U.S. newspaper.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does The New York Times's story end?
The New York Times has no narrative ending because it is a living, ongoing publication rather than a finished work. As of August 2025, it continues to publish daily with roughly 11.88 million subscribers worldwide.
More in Media And Publishing 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record