Why Does Trump Accuse The New York Times of Failing When Its Value Quadrupled Since 2016?

Introduction:

Former US President Donald Trump famously dubbed The New York Times as “The Failing NY Times,” raising eyebrows given that the publication surged in value by threefold since his election in 2016. This article delves into the various controversies surrounding Trump’s accusations and highlights a few instances that support his concerns.

Trump’s Accusations and The New York Times’ Value

Though Trump has long criticized The New York Times, his dismissal of the newspaper as "failing" during a period of significant growth highlights a key discrepancy that warrants scrutiny. The New York Times’ stock has increased by over 300% since 2016, making a strong case against Trump’s allegations of failure.

Key Controversies Surrounding The New York Times

NY Times Scam 1: The Fake Sponsorship Program

One of the main points of Trump’s criticism is summarized as The New York Times’ "fake sponsorship" program. This initiative allows individuals and organizations to contribute financially to provide students and schools with free digital subscriptions. According to the Times: "For every subscription granted through contributions to the program, The Times provides a matching subscription to each additional student."

The result? A misleading figure of 2.6 million "new subscribers," which includes schools and students receiving free access. Critics argue that this scam is intended to mislead advertisers, shareholders, and the public about the actual number of paying subscribers. This analysis reveals how The New York Times manipulates numbers to show “growth.”

NY Times Scam 2: Real Estate Ventures and Empty Promises

Another angle that Trump implies is The New York Times’ expansion into real estate. In December 2016, The New York Times announced plans to vacate multiple floors of its building to boost rental income. However, there are questions raised about the sincerity of this plan, given that the Times has continued to maintain its facilities after the announcement.

For instance, it’s unclear what happened to the employees who previously worked on these vacated floors. The justification given by The New York Times was that their offices "don’t need to preserve those vestiges from a different era." This statement has been met with skepticism, especially given the company’s increased real estate activities in recent years.

NY Times Scam 3: Anti-Semitic Reporting

The racial and religious biases of The New York Times can be seen in its coverage of certain issues. One notable example is the portrayal of religious Jews. In 2019, the newspaper blamed Orthodox Jews for anti-vaccination protests. This selective reporting has raised concerns about anti-Semitism. Notably, this coverage is part of a pattern where the Times tends to criticize Jewish entities while ignoring their positive contributions.

NY Times Scam 4: Lack of Fair Representation of Jews

Another aspect that Trump points to is the absence of a specific group for Jewish representation in The New York Times’ minority reporting programs. The Muslim, Black, Latino, and Asian Network groups are well-established, but there is no equivalent for Jews, especially Orthodox Jews. This oversight has led to accusations of bias and neglect.

Moreover, The New York Times has been criticized for its unfavorable portrayal of Israel and its quote from Martin Luther King Jr. about the paper writing about things it doesn’t understand or comprehend. This criticism resonates with those who see the newspaper as having a negative bias towards Jews and Israel.

NY Times Scam 5: Lack of Understanding and Balanced Reporting

Trump also criticized The New York Times for lacking understanding and balancing reporting. On September 20, 2014, the then-utive editor Dean Baquet confessed that The New York Times writes about things they don’t know or understand. This admission underscores the concern that The New York Times may be less knowledgeable about certain topics, leading to one-sided reporting.

Conclusion:

While The New York Times has certainly proven its value and critical role in journalism, questions remain about the accuracy and fairness of its reporting. Trump’s criticisms, while often dismissed, highlight important issues that the newspaper must consider addressing to maintain journalistic integrity and public trust.