A letter to our readers from The New York Times
To our friends at the New Zealand Herald:
Welcome to the New York
Times family. Let me first say how proud we are to have you with us, especially after seeing your stunning and exhaustive coverage of the terrorist massacre in Christchurch. As journalists, we know how difficult it is to cover a story like this so close to home, and to do it well. So please accept our sympathies to you as New Zealanders and our admiration for you as journalists working under the worst of circumstances.
All of which makes us prouder than ever to know that our coverage will live alongside yours. But as those of us in the journalism world know all too well, the vital information we bring — news, investigative reporting, opinion and features — comes at a financial cost. None of us could do what we do without the loyal support of our readers, who understand the value of what we bring and are willing to pay for it. And likewise, we would be at a loss without our advertisers, who want to reach these knowledgeseekers and turn them into loyal customers. If there is any lesson to learn from us, especially about content behind a paywall, it is that readers will go there if given a reason, if enticed with engaging stories they could not get elsewhere. That is why we believe our alliance is a strong one and that it will drive the need of readers to return, again and again, to your Premium Content section.
Times journalism will hopefully fill gaps in understanding that your readers may have, and not just about spot news topics; we will bring you the arts, health and science, sports and business, among other topics. We hope our coverage will inform and delight, and that your readers will come to appreciate the points of view of their fellow citizens halfway around the world. At the end of the day, after all, that world has gotten much smaller. So from our newsroom of 1550 to yours, let’s tell our stories together and show the world the meaning of truth.
All the best,