MAY 13 • 2021 | 33

and economics of my home-
town, Bay City, which flipped 
from a Democratic strong-
hold to support Trump in 
2016 and again in 2020.

Can you tell us about your 
new role with the Publisher’s 
Office?
I recently stepped away 
from the newsroom to take 
on a role as deputy editor in 
the Publisher’s Office. A.G. 
Sulzberger, who took over as 
the paper’s publisher in 2018, 
needed someone to work as 
his day-to-day partner, espe-
cially when he took on the 
additional role of chairman 
of the board of the Times 
earlier this year. I am helping 
A.G. on a range of issues, 
from our plans to return to 
the office to how to improve 
our workplace and our cul-
ture.
I will chair a newly formed 
committee of newsroom lead-

ers who will evaluate every 
request for outside projects, 
from TV gigs to book and 
movie leaves. Times report-
ers are getting increasingly 
approached for such work, as 
they are often the first ones 
to find stories. But we need 
to be consistent in how we 
decide who gets to do what, 
which wasn’t always the case.

Last year, a Times op-ed edi-
tor and writer, Bari Weiss, 
resigned, claiming a cancel 
culture for NYT journalists 
who deviate from “progres-
sive” orthodoxy. Also, she 
alleged bullying and harass-
ment from fellow employees, 
including criticism for “writ-
ing about the Jews again.” 
How is the NYT responding to 
these allegations?
We appreciate the many 
contributions that Bari made 
to Times Opinion. I’m per-
sonally committed to ensur-

ing that the Times continues 
to publish voices, experiences 
and viewpoints from across 
the political spectrum in 
the Opinion report. We see 
every day how impactful and 
important that approach is, 
especially through the out-
sized influence the Times’ 
opinion journalism has on 
the national conversation.

Can you tell us about the pub-
lic-facing side of your role?
I already represent the 
Times when I moderate panel 
discussions, which I do on a 
regular basis for either NYT 
events or organizations like 
the World Economic Forum. 
But there is more opportunity 
for the Times to engage with 
leaders from across business, 
politics and culture.
I hope to restart Publisher’s 
Office sessions, convening 
the most prominent lead-
ers from around the coun-

try, the city and the world 
with reporters and editors 
from across the newsroom. 
Likewise, we will aim to meet 
with prominent leaders in 
places when traveling around 
the country and the world. 
This will all be much easier 
when the pandemic recedes, 
of course.

What does it mean to you on a 
personal level to grow with the 
Times?
I’m incredibly honored to 
work for the Times. Our mis-
sion, to cover the world with-
out fear or favor and seek 
the truth, is essential to our 
democracy and more import-
ant than ever. We face many 
challenges, especially how to 
cover a country as divided 
as the U.S. is right now. But 
I’m excited to contribute and 
think that my perspective of 
being from Michigan helps 
both root and guide me. 

Rebecca 
Blumenstein

We can’t help find 
your car keys.

But we can help you find 
the perfect mortgage.

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