The New York Times likes to think that it sets the agenda for the country. But it sets the agenda for the media. The media was reputed to take its lead from the Times on matters of national politics and local culture both. Here are the recollections of a former Timesian.
It was a shock on arriving at the New York Times in 2004, as the paper’s movie editor, to realize that its editorial dynamic was essentially the reverse. By and large, talented reporters scrambled to match stories with what internally was often called “the narrative.” We were occasionally asked to map a narrative for our various beats a year in advance, square the plan with editors, then generate stories that fit the pre-designated line.
Reality usually had a way of intervening. But I knew one senior reporter who would play solitaire on his computer in the mornings, waiting for his editors to come through with marching orders. Once, in the Los Angeles bureau, I listened to a visiting National staff reporter tell a contact, more or less: “My editor needs someone to say such-and-such, could you say that?”
The bigger shock came on being told, at least twice, by Times editors who were describing the paper’s daily Page One meeting: “We set the agenda for the country in that room.”
Since this is Deadline, the overall theme of the piece is grousing about its lack of LA-centric movie industry coverage. But this sort of arrogant entitlement is typical enough of the media.
The media sets the agenda. And it expects the country to follow. The media's own agenda is set by a handful of large outlets and smaller, influential left-wing bloggers. Then the marching orders go forth.