NYTimes.com no longer supports Internet Explorer 9 or earlier. Please upgrade your browser. LEARN MORE »
Skip to content Skip to navigation

The New York Times

The Public Editor |

Site Search Navigation

    Site Navigation

    Site Mobile Navigation

    Advertisement

    Supported by

    Opinion

    The Public Editor

    Liz Spayd, 2016-17
    Margaret Sullivan, 2012-16
    Arthur Brisbane, 2010-12
    Clark Hoyt, 2007-10
    Byron Calame, 2005-07
    Daniel Okrent, 2003-05

    • Latest
    • Search

    Latest Articles

    1. The Public Editor Signs Off

      The New York Times may no longer have a public editor, but if that role’s extinguished, who will watch the watchdog?

      By LIZ SPAYD

      June 2, 2017
    2. Friday Mailbag: Manchester, Stereotypes and Social Security Math

      Readers wondered about the continued naming of the arena’s performer. Other concerns: a photo of food stamp recipients and a take on the U.S. debt.

      By LIZ SPAYD with EVAN GERSHKOVICH

      May 26, 2017
    3. The Bombing, the Crime Scene Photos and the Outcry

      The smoke had barely cleared from the Manchester attack before The New York Times ran forensic-evidence images. British officials were angry. So were readers.

      By LIZ SPAYD

      May 25, 2017
    4. Vague Guidelines Lead to a Misstep on Gender Pronouns

      At a time when society’s views on gender identity are outpacing the language to describe it, easily referenced rules can prevent embarrassing mistakes.

      By LIZ SPAYD

      May 25, 2017
    5. The Real Power of Journalism? Blockbuster Scoops

      The best way to build reader confidence is often just to let the facts of a story speak for themselves.

      By LIZ SPAYD

      May 20, 2017
    6. Friday Mailbag: Spilled Beans, Monochrome Faces and Renegade Readers

      The New York Times first withheld the source, but then went on to say that Israel provided the intelligence President Trump shared with the Russians.

      By LIZ SPAYD with EVAN GERSHKOVICH

      May 19, 2017
    7. Friday Mailbag: Is The Times Praising the President — or Poking Fun?

      Some readers are worried that a new weekly column about President Trump harms the newspaper’s reputation; plus, The Times hasn’t covered an oil spill in its own backyard.

      By LIZ SPAYD with EVAN GERSHKOVICH

      May 12, 2017
    8. A Rare Libel Suit Against The Times

      A coal mining company claims that a Times editorial falsely accused the firm’s founder of lying about a mine collapse — though the last time the paper lost a U.S. libel suit was at least the early 1960s.

      By LIZ SPAYD

      May 10, 2017
    9. A Late Entry by The Times Into the Fact-Check Biz

      The paper has started a new unit aimed at holding politicians’ feet to the fire.

      By LIZ SPAYD

      May 6, 2017
    10. The Story Was Fine, the Headline Less So

      Readers were quick to point out that a headline fell short in conveying the potential impact of the Republican health care bill.

      By LIZ SPAYD

      May 5, 2017
    1. Friday Mailbag: A Columnist Has a Fiery Debut and Another Goes Missing

      The first column from The New York Times’s new Op-Ed writer drew a fresh wave of mail. And an artist was unhappy with a past public editor decision.

      By LIZ SPAYD with EVAN GERSHKOVICH

      May 5, 2017
    2. Bret Stephens Takes On Climate Change. Readers Unleash Their Fury.

      The New York Times’s new Op-Ed writer drew a strong reaction when he questioned the data on climate science in his first column. Now what?

      By LIZ SPAYD

      May 3, 2017
    3. Friday Mailbag: Please Don’t Call It Trump’s ‘Tax Plan’

      The New York Times’s use of tax terms prompts emails. And, is a column showing houses priced mostly at and above $1 million relatable to readers?

      By LIZ SPAYD with EVAN GERSHKOVICH

      April 28, 2017
    4. Intemperate Words, Temperate News Coverage

      When a public figure utters a slur and news organizations use euphemisms to describe it, a question comes up: Who’s really being protected?

      By LIZ SPAYD

      April 25, 2017
    5. Seeking More Voices, Even if Some Don’t Want to Hear Them

      After the election, The Times promised to include more viewpoints in its report. It has, but some readers have not embraced it.

      By LIZ SPAYD

      April 22, 2017
    6. Friday Mailbag: A Patriots Photo Lets Trump Score a Point

      Also: Did The Times present police officers fired for assault too positively? And the newspaper’s use of “Mrs.” again sets off a debate.

      By LIZ SPAYD with EVAN GERSHKOVICH

      April 21, 2017
    7. An Op-Ed Author Omits His Crimes, and The Times Does Too

      Readers objected when a writer mentioned his life sentences but not that he was convicted of murder. This issue of credentials has come up before.

      By LIZ SPAYD

      April 18, 2017
    8. Friday Mailbag: When Governments Go ‘Rogue’

      Did The Times fail to give due credit to an artist in its profile of another’s work? And should the paper have memorialized an actress? Plus some questions on word choice.

      By LIZ SPAYD with EVAN GERSHKOVICH

      April 14, 2017
    9. A Crossword as a Second Chance Troubles Many Readers

      The New York Times crossword editor, Will Shortz, ran a puzzle by a man in prison, but some said they were appalled by his crime.

      By LIZ SPAYD

      April 11, 2017
    10. Covering Sports. Including Smelt Fishing. And Bighorn-Sheep Hunting.

      The Times tends to sacrifice routine game stories and coverage of the local teams for offbeat articles, investigative pieces and even bizarre features.

      By LIZ SPAYD

      April 8, 2017
    Skip to Navigation

    Search Articles

    925 results for sorted by

    1. The Public Editor Signs Off

      The New York Times may no longer have a public editor, but if that role’s extinguished, who will watch the watchdog?

      By LIZ SPAYD

      June 2, 2017
    2. Friday Mailbag: Manchester, Stereotypes and Social Security Math

      Readers wondered about the continued naming of the arena’s performer. Other concerns: a photo of food stamp recipients and a take on the U.S. debt.

      By LIZ SPAYD with EVAN GERSHKOVICH

      May 26, 2017
    3. The Bombing, the Crime Scene Photos and the Outcry

      The smoke had barely cleared from the Manchester attack before The New York Times ran forensic-evidence images. British officials were angry. So were readers.

      By LIZ SPAYD

      May 25, 2017
    4. Vague Guidelines Lead to a Misstep on Gender Pronouns

      At a time when society’s views on gender identity are outpacing the language to describe it, easily referenced rules can prevent embarrassing mistakes.

      By LIZ SPAYD

      May 25, 2017
    5. The Real Power of Journalism? Blockbuster Scoops

      The best way to build reader confidence is often just to let the facts of a story speak for themselves.

      By LIZ SPAYD

      May 20, 2017
    6. Friday Mailbag: Spilled Beans, Monochrome Faces and Renegade Readers

      The New York Times first withheld the source, but then went on to say that Israel provided the intelligence President Trump shared with the Russians.

      By LIZ SPAYD with EVAN GERSHKOVICH

      May 19, 2017
    7. Friday Mailbag: Is The Times Praising the President — or Poking Fun?

      Some readers are worried that a new weekly column about President Trump harms the newspaper’s reputation; plus, The Times hasn’t covered an oil spill in its own backyard.

      By LIZ SPAYD with EVAN GERSHKOVICH

      May 12, 2017
    8. A Rare Libel Suit Against The Times

      A coal mining company claims that a Times editorial falsely accused the firm’s founder of lying about a mine collapse — though the last time the paper lost a U.S. libel suit was at least the early 1960s.

      By LIZ SPAYD

      May 10, 2017
    9. A Late Entry by The Times Into the Fact-Check Biz

      The paper has started a new unit aimed at holding politicians’ feet to the fire.

      By LIZ SPAYD

      May 6, 2017
    10. The Story Was Fine, the Headline Less So

      Readers were quick to point out that a headline fell short in conveying the potential impact of the Republican health care bill.

      By LIZ SPAYD

      May 5, 2017
    1. Friday Mailbag: A Columnist Has a Fiery Debut and Another Goes Missing

      The first column from The New York Times’s new Op-Ed writer drew a fresh wave of mail. And an artist was unhappy with a past public editor decision.

      By LIZ SPAYD with EVAN GERSHKOVICH

      May 5, 2017
    2. Bret Stephens Takes On Climate Change. Readers Unleash Their Fury.

      The New York Times’s new Op-Ed writer drew a strong reaction when he questioned the data on climate science in his first column. Now what?

      By LIZ SPAYD

      May 3, 2017
    3. Friday Mailbag: Please Don’t Call It Trump’s ‘Tax Plan’

      The New York Times’s use of tax terms prompts emails. And, is a column showing houses priced mostly at and above $1 million relatable to readers?

      By LIZ SPAYD with EVAN GERSHKOVICH

      April 28, 2017
    4. Intemperate Words, Temperate News Coverage

      When a public figure utters a slur and news organizations use euphemisms to describe it, a question comes up: Who’s really being protected?

      By LIZ SPAYD

      April 25, 2017
    5. Seeking More Voices, Even if Some Don’t Want to Hear Them

      After the election, The Times promised to include more viewpoints in its report. It has, but some readers have not embraced it.

      By LIZ SPAYD

      April 22, 2017
    6. Friday Mailbag: A Patriots Photo Lets Trump Score a Point

      Also: Did The Times present police officers fired for assault too positively? And the newspaper’s use of “Mrs.” again sets off a debate.

      By LIZ SPAYD with EVAN GERSHKOVICH

      April 21, 2017
    7. An Op-Ed Author Omits His Crimes, and The Times Does Too

      Readers objected when a writer mentioned his life sentences but not that he was convicted of murder. This issue of credentials has come up before.

      By LIZ SPAYD

      April 18, 2017
    8. Friday Mailbag: When Governments Go ‘Rogue’

      Did The Times fail to give due credit to an artist in its profile of another’s work? And should the paper have memorialized an actress? Plus some questions on word choice.

      By LIZ SPAYD with EVAN GERSHKOVICH

      April 14, 2017
    9. A Crossword as a Second Chance Troubles Many Readers

      The New York Times crossword editor, Will Shortz, ran a puzzle by a man in prison, but some said they were appalled by his crime.

      By LIZ SPAYD

      April 11, 2017
    10. Covering Sports. Including Smelt Fishing. And Bighorn-Sheep Hunting.

      The Times tends to sacrifice routine game stories and coverage of the local teams for offbeat articles, investigative pieces and even bizarre features.

      By LIZ SPAYD

      April 8, 2017
    Skip to Navigation

    Go to Home Page »

    Site Index The New York Times

    Site Index Navigation

    News

    • World
    • U.S.
    • Politics
    • N.Y.
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Science
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Education
    • Obituaries
    • Today's Paper
    • Corrections

    Opinion

    • Today's Opinion
    • Op-Ed Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Op-Ed Contributors
    • Letters
    • Sunday Review
    • Video: Opinion

    Arts

    • Today's Arts
    • Art & Design
    • Books
    • Dance
    • Movies
    • Music
    • N.Y.C. Events Guide
    • Television
    • Theater
    • Video: Arts

    Living

    • Automobiles
    • Crossword
    • Food
    • Education
    • Fashion & Style
    • Health
    • Jobs
    • Magazine
    • N.Y.C. Events Guide
    • Real Estate
    • T Magazine
    • Travel
    • Weddings & Celebrations

    Listings & More

    • Reader Center
    • Classifieds
    • Tools & Services
    • N.Y.C. Events Guide
    • Multimedia
    • Photography
    • Video
    • NYT Store
    • Times Journeys
    • Subscribe
    • Manage My Account
    • NYTCo

    Subscribe

    • Subscribe
    • Home Delivery
    • Digital Subscriptions
    • Crossword
    • Email Newsletters
    • Alerts
    • Gift Subscriptions
    • Group Subscriptions
    • Education Rate
    • Mobile Applications
    • Replica Edition

    Site Information Navigation

    • © 2017 The New York Times Company
    • Home
    • Search
    • Accessibility concerns? Email us at accessibility@nytimes.com. We would love to hear from you.
    • Contact Us
    • Work With Us
    • Advertise
    • Your Ad Choices
    • Privacy
    • Terms of Service
    • Terms of Sale

    Site Information Navigation

    • Site Map
    • Help
    • Site Feedback
    • Subscriptions