New York Times Deep Dive

Contributing to The New York Times requires more than a strong pitch — it demands an understanding of how the institution moves, who makes decisions, and where opportunity actually lives. This deep dive breaks down the Times’ ecosystem for journalists looking to contribute this year, from key competitors and decision-makers to events, internships, and strategic ways to build real editorial access.

5 Competitors to New York Times

The Washington Post

• Editor: Sally Buzbee

• Headquarters: Washington, D.C.

The Wall Street Journal

• Editor-in-Chief: Matt Murray

• Headquarters: New York, NY

USA Today

• Editor-in-Chief: Nicole Carroll

• Headquarters: McLean, VA

Los Angeles Times

• Executive Editor: Kevin Merida

• Headquarters: El Segundo, CA

Chicago Tribune

• Editor-in-Chief: Mitch Pugh

• Headquarters: Chicago, IL

New York Times Decision-Makers - Learn where they dwell ON and OFF Line

How to Engage with New York Times Leaders - 

• Attend industry events where NYT leaders will be speaking and engage with them afterward. Introduce yourself and share your interest.

  • South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference - Annual tech, film and music festival in Austin that has media/journalism tracks.

  • Code Media Conference - Recode's annual conference focused on media, technology, and journalism.

  • Online News Association (ONA) Conference - Annual conference for digital media leaders.

  • American Society of News Editors (ASNE) Conference - Leadership conference for newsroom executives.

  • TechCrunch Disrupt - Large tech startup conference, often with media/journalism panels.

  • Digiday Publishing Summit - For leaders in digital publishing and media.

  • Columbia Journalism School events - Such as their j-school centennial events.

  • International Journalism Festival - Annual journalism festival held in Perugia, Italy.

  • Journalism events at Harvard, Yale, etc. - Prominent journalism schools often host speakers.

  • NABJ, AAJA, NAHJ, SAJA events - Journalism association conferences that NYT leaders speak at.

Apply to any NYT internship programs as they often feed into full-time jobs. 

• • Newsroom Summer Internship - Intern for a desk like sports, culture, metro, foreign, etc. Located in NYC.

  • Visual Journalism Internship - Photo, video, graphics. Work with the multimedia team.

  • Opinions Summer Internship - Write for the editorial board and OpEd section.

  • Investigative Journalism Internship - Assist with investigative projects and reporting.

  • Audio Summer Internship - Help produce podcasts and work on audio storytelling.

  • Data/Research Internship - Work with data analysts and journalists on special projects.

  • Graphics Internship - Create charts, maps, illustrations and interactives.

  • Marketing Summer Internship - Help promote NYT content and products.

  • Software Engineering Internship - Build web apps and products for NYT readers and journalists.

  • Design Internship - Work on digital design and art direction for NYT stories.

  • Advertising/Media Internship - Support ad sales team and clients.

Where to Find NYTimes Internships

• The New York Times Careers Website: This has a section specifically for internships that provides details on openings across departments. It's the main place NYT lists internship postings.

• The New York Times Internship Twitter Account (@NYTInterns): The account tweets out new internship postings when they become available.

• LinkedIn Jobs: Search "New York Times" and filter by internships to see openings.

• JournalismJobs.com: NYT internships are frequently listed on this site for media industry opportunities. You can set alerts.

• Poynter Internships Page: Poynter compiles nationwide journalism internships including recurring NYT opportunities.

• Comment thoughtfully on Black leaders' social media posts or articles. Thoughtful engagement can lead to a connection,

Here is a list of some of the top Black editors and leaders at NYT along with their roles:

Dean Baquet - Executive Editor

Marc Lacey - National Editor

Audra Burch - Enterprise Editor

John Eligon - National Correspondent

• Dana Canedy - Administrator, The New York Times Fellowship

Here are some of the key managing editors at The New York Times that work with and manage opportunities for aspiring journalists:

• Joe Kahn - Managing Editor of The New York Times. Oversees all newsroom operations.

• Carolyn Ryan - Deputy Managing Editor. Helps manage interns and mentorship initiatives.

• Cliff Levy - Assistant Managing Editor. Manages training programs for journalists.

• Monica Drake - Assistant Managing Editor. Oversees career development and intern/fellowship programs.

• Lela Moore - Managing Editor, Talent and Inclusion. Manages diversity programs for aspiring journalists.

• Gillian Friedman - Managing Director, Mentorships and Coaching. Runs mentorship initiatives.

• Andrea Zagata - Deputy Managing Editor, Talent and Development. Oversees leadership training.

• Gabriel J.X. Dance - Deputy Managing Editor, Special Projects and Ventures. Manages incubator programs.

• Jodi Rudoren - Associate Managing Editor, Talent and Development. Helps recruit and develop diverse talent.

• Larry Buchanan - Editor, Experiments. Runs innovative storytelling initiatives.

How to Write an Op-Ed for The New York Times 

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