The NY Times Doubles Size of Newsroom, While Others Downsize

The New York Times has reached a milestone in its newsroom growth amid widespread industry contraction.

Publisher A.G. Sulzberger announced Thursday in his annual "State of the Times" address that the Times newsroom now employs 2,300 journalists — double the size from a decade ago. (When including Opinion, The Athletic, sports coverage, and other journalistic operations, the total exceeds 3,000.)

This expansion positions the Times as employing more than 4% of all working journalists in America, according to circulating estimates in media circles — a remarkable share for one outlet in an era when many news organizations are shrinking or folding.

Separately, the Times has poached a high-profile talent: Michael Kruse, Politico Magazine's longest-tenured senior staff writer, is departing for the Times' politics team. Kruse, known for in-depth profiles and political reporting (including extensive coverage of Donald Trump), had been at Politico since around 2015 after earlier stints at the Tampa Bay Times.

The moves highlight a stark industry divide. 

While the Times benefits from diversified revenue — including digital subscriptions (over 11 million), games, cooking, and audio — many peers face layoffs and cutbacks. Recent months alone have seen reductions at outlets like the Washington Post, Politico, Wall Street Journal, and others, continuing a multi-year trend of consolidation.