It’s been a moment for soul-searching, and to some extent repentance, at the
New York Times. In much-discussed remarks to his own media columnist James Rutenberg, executive editor
Dean Baquet offered a
mea culpa for having missed the
Donald Trump surprise, though he spoke less for the paper than for journalists in general.
“We’ve got to do a much better job of being on the road, out in the country, talking to different kinds of people than we talk to — especially if you happen to be a New York-based news organization — and remind ourselves that New York is not the real world,” Baquet said.
Public editor Liz Spayd cut closer to the bone, as she marveled at an election-night flip from an 84% Clinton-to-win assessment by the paper’s elaborate data operation, to a 95% likelihood for Trump just a few hours later.
“As The Times begins a period of self-reflection, I hope its editors will think hard about the half of America the paper too seldom covers,” wrote Spayd.
She continued:
“The red state America campaign coverage that rang the loudest in news coverage grew out of Trump rallies, and it often amplified the voices of the most hateful. One especially compelling video produced with footage collected over months on the campaign trail, captured the ugly vitriol like few others. That’s important coverage. But it and pieces like it drowned out the kind of agenda-free, deep narratives that could have taken Times readers deeper into the lives and values of the people who just elected the next president.”
Stunned By Trump, The New York Times Finds Time For Soul-Searching | Deadline
ya think?
but don't hold your breath kids.
Steve Paikin Verified account @spaikin 
Dean Skoreyko @bcbluecon 
