Arthur Sulzberger Jr.

Arthur Sulzberger Jr. is an American newspaper publisher and businessman who served as the chairman of The New York Times Company and publisher of its flagship newspaper, The New York Times. He is a fourth-generation member of the Ochs-Sulzberger family, which has controlled the newspaper since 1896. His tenure oversaw the company's navigation of the digital revolution, significant journalistic achievements, and profound financial challenges.

Early life and education

He was born in Mount Kisco, New York, the son of Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, who was then the publisher of The New York Times, and Barbara Winslow Grant. He attended the Browne & Nichols School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Tufts University in 1974. Following graduation, he served for three years as a reporter for The Raleigh Times in North Carolina and briefly attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University before joining the family business.

Career at The New York Times

He began his career at The New York Times in 1978 as a correspondent in its Washington, D.C. bureau. He held various reporting and editing positions, including stints covering the New York State Legislature in Albany and serving as an assistant metro editor. In 1987, he moved to the business side of the company, becoming deputy publisher of the newspaper's corporate cousin, the now-defunct New York Daily News. He returned to The New York Times in 1988, ascending through management roles, including assistant publisher, deputy publisher, and finally publisher in 1992, succeeding his father.

Leadership and tenure as publisher

As publisher and later chairman of The New York Times Company, his leadership was defined by the seismic shift from print to digital media. He championed the newspaper's early and aggressive investment in its online presence, launching NYTimes.com in 1996. His tenure included overseeing Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of major events like the September 11 attacks, the Iraq War, and the revelation of the Bush administration's warrantless wiretapping program. He also presided over controversial decisions, such as the publication of the classified Pentagon Papers in 2004 and the handling of the Jayson Blair plagiarism scandal. Financially, the company faced severe pressure from declining print advertising, leading to dividend cuts, the sale of assets like WQXR-FM, and borrowing against its headquarters building at One Times Square.

Post-publisher career and legacy

He stepped down as publisher in 2017, passing the role to his son, A. G. Sulzberger, and relinquished the chairman title at the end of 2020. He remains chairman emeritus of The New York Times Company and serves on its board of directors. His legacy is complex, marked by his steadfast defense of journalistic independence and his pivotal, if sometimes turbulent, stewardship of the newspaper's digital transformation. Under his watch, the foundation was laid for the later successful rollout of the digital paywall and subscription model that secured the company's financial future in the 21st century.

Personal life

He was married to artist and writer Gail Gregg from 1975 until their divorce in 2008; they have two children. In 2015, he married textile artist Caroline Hunter. An avid outdoorsman, he has served on the boards of several non-profit organizations, including the New York City Outward Bound Center and the National Parks Conservation Association. He resides in New York City and maintains a strong connection to the Adirondack Mountains.

Category:American newspaper publishers Category:The New York Times people Category:1951 births Category:Living people Category:Tufts University alumni