new york times essay topics

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Guest Essays

Stephen Breyer: The Supreme Court I Served On Was Made Up of Friends

If justices who disagree so profoundly can do so respectfully, perhaps it is possible for our politically divided country to do the same.

By Stephen Breyer

Trump’s Backers Are Determined Not to Blow It This Time Around

The right-wing networks Trump can count on are ready for action.

By Thomas B. Edsall

I’m a Doctor. Dengue Fever Took Even Me by Surprise on Vacation.

Without urgent reforms to how we educate travelers, doctors, nurses and others, we are doomed to miss textbook dengue cases.

By Deborah Heaney

The Problem With Saying ‘Sex Assigned at Birth’

The term creates doubt about a biological fact when there shouldn’t be any.

By Alex Byrne and Carole K. Hooven

José Andrés: Let People Eat

You cannot win this war by starving an entire population.

By José Andrés

I Hope to Repeal an Arcane Law That Could Be Misused to Ban Abortion Nationwide

The Comstock Act is a major concern if Donald Trump is re-elected.

By Tina Smith

I’m an Economist. Don’t Worry. Be Happy.

An economist explains why his lens makes him so much more optimistic about the state of our economy than the average American.

By Justin Wolfers

Let People Sell Their Kidneys. It Will Save Lives.

A regulated market for donations could help end the shortage of these organs for transplant.

By Dylan Walsh

Israel Must No Longer Live by the Sword

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is wildly unpopular — but it will take a movement to unseat him.

By Joshua Leifer

How to Breathe With the Trees

Our poet laureate Ada Limón is on a mission to reconnect us to nature.

By Margaret Renkl

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The New York Times

The learning network | our 100 most popular student questions for debate and persuasive writing.

Our 100 Most Popular Student Questions for Debate and Persuasive Writing

Updated, March 2, 2017 | We have two related question lists, “401 Prompts for Argumentative Writing” and “650 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing.”

In anticipation of our third annual Student Editorial Contest (to be announced on Feb. 25), we’ve done the math, and below you’ll find the 100 most-commented-upon questions we’ve ever asked that call for persuasive writing.

Many of them are, of course, on topics teenagers care about — technology, video games, sports and gender issues. Others are classic debate issues like government regulation and gun violence.

But, perhaps unsurprisingly, the broad topic that seems to engage students the most? School — from questions about homework to cheating, bad report cards, bullying and gym class.

So skim the list and pick issues that interest you. Each question is linked to a related Times article, which you can access free, and includes additional subquestions to help you flesh out your ideas.

Our 100 Most Popular Student Questions for Debate and Argumentative Writing

• Are the Web Filters at Your School Too Restrictive?
• Does Technology Make Us More Alone?
• How Should Parents Handle a Bad Report Card?
• Should Middle School Students Be Drug Tested?
• Is Cheating Getting Worse?
• Do Violent Video Games Make People More Violent in Real Life?
• Do We Give Children Too Many Trophies?
• Should Students Be Able to Grade Their Teachers?
• Should Schools Put Tracking Devices in Students’ ID Cards?
• If Football Is So Dangerous to Players, Should We Be Watching It?
• Should Video Games Be Considered a Sport?
• Do Teachers Assign Too Much Homework?
• Does Technology Get in the Way of Learning?
• What Is More Important: Our Privacy or National Security?
• California Notice
• Should Stores Sell Violent Video Games to Minors?
• Is a Healthier School Lunch Program a Lost Cause?
• How Young Is Too Young for an iPhone?
• Is Cheerleading a Sport?
• Should the School Day Start Later?
• Should Racial Epithets Be Removed From ‘Huck Finn’?

• Should Schools Offer Cash Bonuses for Good Test Scores?
• Can Money Buy You Happiness?
• Should Women Be Allowed to Fight on the Front Lines Alongside Men? And, Should They Be Required to Register for the Draft?
• Is There Too Much Pressure on Girls to Have ‘Perfect’ Bodies?
• Should the Private Lives of Famous People Be Off Limits?
• Is School Teaching You the Skills You’ll Need to Succeed in Life?
• What Current Musicians Will Stand the Test of Time?
• What Words or Phrases Are Overused and Should Go Away?
• Can Cellphones Be Educational Tools?
• Is School Designed More for Girls Than Boys?
• Do Kids Need Recess?
• What Time Should Black Friday Sales Start?
• Do Photoshopped Images Promote Unrealistic Expectations of Beauty and Body Image?
• What Should Be Done to Stop Cyberbullying?
• When Should You Feel Guilty for Killing Zombies?
• How Should We Prevent Future Mass Shootings?
• Is It Unethical for Zoos to Kill Healthy Animals Under Their Care?
• Is a Longer School Calendar a Good Idea?
• Which Is More Important: Talent or Hard Work?
• Should Couples Live Together Before Marriage?

• Is Home-Schooling Better Than a Traditional Education?
• Is Prom Worth It?
• Do Students Learn Best When They Direct Their Own Education?
• Should Reading and Math Be Taught in Gym Class Too?
• Should Schools Be Allowed to Use Corporal Punishment?
• How Young Is Too Young to Date? (Or, Is Dating a Thing of the Past? )
• Do You Trust Your Government?
• Are Children of Illegal Immigrants Entitled to a Public Education?
• Should the Government Limit the Size of Sugary Drinks?
• Has Facebook Lost Its Edge?
• Should Tablet Computers Become the Primary Way Students Learn in Class?
• How Necessary Is a College Education?
• How Well Do You Think Standardized Tests Measure Your Abilities?
• Are Some Youth Sports Too Intense?
• Should Texting While Driving Be Illegal in Every State?
• Can Graffiti Ever Be Considered Art?
• Whose Fault Is It if a Child Is Failing in School?
• Should the Dropout Age Be Raised?
• Should a College Education Be Free?
• Should People Be Allowed to Obscure Their Identities Online?

• Does Class Size Matter?
• Should Marijuana Be Legal?
• Should You Feel Guilty About Killing Spiders, Ants or Other Bugs?
• Does Classroom Technology Enhance What and How Students Learn? Or, Does It Get in the Way of Learning?
• Should Parents Let Their Children Play Football?
• When Is the Use of Military Force Justified?
• Do Parents Have Different Hopes and Standards for Their Sons Than for Their Daughters?
• Do Leaders Have Moral Obligations?
• Should All Police Officers Wear Body Cameras?
• Does Separating Boys and Girls Help Students Perform Better in School?
• Is It Ethical to Eat Meat?
• Is Smoking Still a Problem Among Teenagers?
• Do Laws That Ban Offensive Words Make the World a Better Place?
• Is TV Too White? And, What About Movies?
• Is It O.K. to Refuse to Serve Same-Sex Couples Based on Religious Beliefs?
• Should Parents Limit How Much Time Children Spend on Tech Devices?
• Would You Feel Safer With Armed Guards Patrolling Your School?
• Should You Go to Jail for Kicking a Cat?
• Should Home-Schoolers Be Allowed to Play Public School Sports?
• Is It Offensive for Sports Teams to Use Native American Names and Mascots?

• Should Students Be Barred From Taking Cellphones to School?
• How Important Is Arts Education?
• Should the United States Stop Using the Death Penalty?
• Is It O.K. for Men and Boys to Comment on Women and Girls on the Street?
• Should Students Be Allowed to Skip Senior Year of High School?
• Would You Trade Your Paper Books for Digital Versions?
• Have Curse Words Become So Common They Have Lost Their Shock Value?
• Should College Football Players Get Paid?
• Are High School Students Being Worked Too Hard?
• When Do You Become an Adult?
• Does Reality TV Promote Dangerous Stereotypes? Or, Does It Ever Actually Do Some Good?
• Should Colleges Find a Better Way to Admit Students?
• How Should Parents Address Internet Pornography?
• Can You Be Good Without God?
• Do Our Neighborhoods Define Who We Are?
• Does Life Exist — or Has It Ever Existed — Somewhere Besides Earth?
• Should Computer Games Be Used for Classroom Instruction?
• Should Companies Collect Information About Us?
• Should You Care About the Health and Safety of Those Making Your Clothing?
• Should We Rethink How Long Students Spend in High School?

As a bonus, here are several more popular questions that we published since last year’s editorial contest that didn’t make the list:

• Does Facebook Need a ‘Dislike’ Button?
• Are School Dress Codes a Good Idea?
• Should Voting Be Mandatory?
• Should the Drinking Age Be Lowered?
• Should Farm Animals Have More Legal Protections?
• Does Punctuation in Text Messages Matter?
• Should High Schools Drop Football Because Too Many Players Are Getting Injured?
• Should Circuses Be Animal-Free?

Not enough? We’ve also previously published a list of 301 prompts for argumentative writing , organized by topic.

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116 New York Times Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

The New York Times is known for publishing thought-provoking essays on a wide range of topics. Whether you're a seasoned writer looking for inspiration or a student in need of essay ideas, the New York Times has you covered. To help you get started, here are 116 essay topic ideas and examples that have been featured in the New York Times:

• The impact of social media on mental health
• The rise of fake news and its effects on democracy
• The importance of voting in a democracy
• The role of technology in modern society
• The ethics of genetic engineering
• The impact of climate change on the environment
• The future of work in a digital age
• The benefits and drawbacks of online education
• The effects of globalization on culture
• The role of art in society
• The impact of social media influencers on consumer behavior
• The importance of diversity in the workplace
• The ethics of artificial intelligence
• The effects of income inequality on society
• The role of religion in modern life
• The impact of social media on relationships
• The future of healthcare in America
• The ethics of animal testing
• The benefits and drawbacks of a cashless society
• The impact of automation on the workforce
• The role of women in the workforce
• The effects of social media on political discourse
• The importance of mental health awareness
• The impact of technology on privacy
• The ethics of gene editing
• The effects of climate change on food production
• The future of renewable energy
• The role of sports in society
• The impact of social media on body image
• The benefits and drawbacks of remote work
• The ethics of drone warfare
• The effects of gentrification on communities
• The role of education in reducing poverty
• The impact of social media on activism
• The future of artificial intelligence in healthcare
• The benefits and drawbacks of universal basic income
• The ethics of nuclear weapons
• The effects of social media on political polarization
• The role of religion in shaping morality
• The impact of technology on the environment
• The importance of mental health support in schools
• The ethics of data collection by tech companies
• The effects of climate change on agriculture
• The future of space exploration
• The role of music in society
• The impact of social media on self-esteem
• The benefits and drawbacks of online dating
• The ethics of surveillance in a digital age
• The effects of social media on democracy
• The role of immigration in shaping culture
• The impact of technology on communication
• The future of transportation in cities
• The importance of mental health in the workplace
• The ethics of animal rights activism
• The effects of climate change on biodiversity
• The role of fashion in society
• The impact of social media on political engagement
• The benefits and drawbacks of telecommuting
• The ethics of genetic modification in agriculture
• The effects of social media on teenagers
• The future of renewable energy sources
• The role of literature in shaping society
• The impact of technology on children's development
• The importance of mental health advocacy
• The ethics of surveillance capitalism
• The effects of climate change on coastal communities
• The role of film in society
• The impact of social media on mental health in teenagers
• The benefits and drawbacks of artificial intelligence in healthcare
• The ethics of animal captivity
• The effects of climate change on water resources
• The future of electric vehicles
• The role of social media in shaping political movements
• The impact of technology on creativity
• The importance of mental health education
• The ethics of bioengineering
• The effects of climate change on indigenous communities
• The role of photography in society
• The impact of social media on political campaigns
• The benefits and drawbacks of virtual reality
• The ethics of animal testing in cosmetics
• The effects of climate change on wildlife
• The future of sustainable agriculture
• The role of social media in spreading misinformation
• The impact of technology on social relationships
• The importance of mental health resources in underserved communities
• The ethics of genetic modification in humans
• The effects of climate change on urban areas
• The role of social media in shaping beauty standards
• The impact of technology on mental health treatment
• The benefits and drawbacks of artificial intelligence in education
• The ethics of factory farming
• The effects of climate change on natural disasters
• The future of sustainable energy solutions
• The role of social media in promoting body positivity
• The impact of technology on sleep patterns
• The importance of mental health awareness in the workplace
• The ethics of human cloning
• The effects of climate change on the economy
• The role of social media in promoting activism
• The impact of technology on language acquisition
• The benefits and drawbacks of virtual learning environments
• The ethics of animal experimentation in medical research
• The effects of climate change on human health
• The future of clean energy technology
• The role of social media in fostering community
• The impact of technology on attention spans
• The importance of mental health support for veterans
• The ethics of genetically modified organisms
• The effects of climate change on food security
• The role of social media in political discourse
• The impact of technology on social skills
• The benefits and drawbacks of online therapy
• The ethics of animal agriculture
• The effects of climate change on migration patterns
• The future of sustainable urban planning

With so many compelling topics to choose from, you're sure to find inspiration for your next essay in the pages of the New York Times. Happy writing!

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How We Redesigned the New York Times Opinion Essay

When a team of editors, designers and strategists teamed up to talk about how times opinion coverage is presented and packaged to readers, they thought of a dinner party..

The NYT Open Team

By Dalit Shalom

Picture a dinner party. The table is set with a festive meal, glasses full of your favorite drink. A group of your friends gather around to talk and share stories. The conversation swings from topic to topic and everyone is engaged in a lively discussion, excited to share ideas and stories with one another.

This is what we imagined when we — a group of New York Times editors, strategists and designers — teamed up last summer to talk about how to think about how our Opinion coverage is presented and packaged to our readers. We envisioned a forum that facilitated thoughtful discussion and would invite people to participate in vibrant debates.

The team was established after a wave of feedback from our readers showed that many people found it difficult to tell whether a story was an Opinion piece or hard news. This feedback was concerning. The Times publishes fact-based journalism both in our newsroom and on our Opinion desk, but it is very important to our mission that the distinction between the two is clear.

The type of Opinion journalism our group was tasked with rethinking was the Op-Ed, which was first introduced in the Times newspaper in 1970. The Op-Ed was short for “opposite the Editorial Page,” and it contained essays written by both Times columnists and external contributors from across the political, cultural and global spectrum who shared their viewpoints on numerous topics and current events. Because of the Op-Ed’s proximity to the Editorial Page in the printed newspaper, it was clear that published essays were Opinion journalism.

Then The Times began publishing online. Today, most of our readers find our journalism across many different media channels. The Op-Ed lost its clear proximity to the Editorial Page, and the term has been used broadly as a catch-all phrase for Opinion pieces, leaving the definition of what an Op-Ed is unclear.

To learn more about the friction our readership was describing, we held several research sessions with various types of Times readers, including subscribers and non-subscribers. Over the course of these sessions, we learned that readers genuinely crave a diversity of viewpoints. They turn to the Opinion section for a curated conversation that introduces them to ideologies different than their own.

In the divided nature of politics today, many readers are looking for structured arguments that prepare them to converse thoughtfully about complicated topics. Some readers said they want to challenge and interrogate their own beliefs. Others worry that they exist in their own bubbles and they need to understand how the “other side” thinks.

And across the board, readers said they are aware that social media platforms can be echo chambers that help validate their beliefs rather than illuminate different perspectives. They believe The Times can help them look outside those echo chambers.

Considering this feedback, we took a close look at the anatomy of an Op-Ed piece. At a glance, Opinion pieces shared similar, but not necessarily cohesive, properties. They had an “Opinion” label at the top of the page that was sometimes followed by a descriptive sub-label (for example, “The Argument”), as a way to indicate a story belonged to a column. That would be a headline, a summary and a byline, often accompanied by an image or video before the actual text of the story.

By looking at those visual cues, it became clear to us that they could be reconfigured to better communicate the difference between news and opinion.

We created several design provocations and conducted user testing sessions with readers to see how this approach and a new layout might resonate. Some noticeable changes we made include center-aligning the Opinion label and header, labeling the section in red and providing more intentional guidance and art direction for visuals that accommodate Opinion pieces.

While many readers could tell the difference between news and opinion stories, they didn’t understand why certain voices were featured in the Opinion section. They wanted more clarity about the Op-Ed, such as who wrote it and whether the writer was Times staff or an external voice. In the case of external contributors, readers wanted to know why the desk chose to feature their voice.

These questions took our team back to the drawing board. We began to realize that the challenge at hand was not solely a design problem, but a framing issue, as well.

We had long philosophical conversations about the meaning of Op-Ed pieces. We talked about the importance of hosting external voices and how those voices should be presented to our readers. The metaphor of a dinner party figured prominently in our conversations: the Opinion section should be a place where guests gather to engage in an environment that is civil and respectful.

We began to sharpen how we might convey the difference between an endorsement of a particular voice and hosting a guest — one of many who might contribute to a lively debate around a current event.

The more we thought about the Opinion section as a dinner party, the more we felt how crucial it was to communicate this idea to readers.

As we approached the designs, we set out to create an atmosphere for open dialogue and conversation. Two significant editorial changes came out of our group conversations.

After many iterations, we decided to introduce a two-tiered labeling system, so that readers could understand unequivocally the type of Opinion piece they were about to engage with. For external voices, we added the label “ Guest Essay ,” alongside other labels that indicate staff contributors and internal editorials. The label “Guest Essay” not only shifts the tone of a piece — a guest that we are hosting to share their point of view — but it also helps readers distinguish between opinions coming from the voice of The Times and opinions coming from external voices.

The second important editorial change is a more detailed bio about the author whose opinion we are sharing. With the dinner party metaphor in mind, this kind of intentional introduction can be seen as a toast, providing context, clarity and relevance around who someone is and why we chose them to write an essay.

Some of these changes may seem subtle, but sometimes the best dinner conversations are nuanced. This body of work signals an important moment for The New York Times in how we think about expressing opinions on our platform. We believe that one of the things that makes for a healthy society and a functioning democracy is a space for numerous perspectives to be honored and celebrated. We are confident these improvements will help further Times Opinion’s mission of curating debate and discussion around the world’s most pressing issues.

Dalit Shalom is the Design Lead for the Story Formats team at The New York Times, focusing on crafting new storytelling vehicles for Times journalism. Dalit teaches classes on creative thinking and news products at NYU and Columbia, and in her free time you can find her baking tremendous amounts of babka.

Written by The NYT Open Team

We’re New York Times employees writing about workplace culture, and how we design and build digital products for journalism.

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Guide to The NY Times’ Five Best College Essays on Work, Money and Class

So, you might ask, “What can I learn from this year’s crop of college essays about money, work and class? And how can they help me craft my own memorable, standout essays?”  To help get to the bottom of what made the Times ‘ featured essays so exceptional, we made you a guide on  w hat worked, and what you can emulate in your own essays to make them just as memorable for admissions.

• Contradictions are the stuff of great literature . “I belong to the place where opposites merge in a…heap of beautiful contradictions,” muses Tillena Treborn in her lyrical essay on straddling rural and urban life in Flagstaff, AZ, one of the five pieces selected by t he Times this year. Each of the highlighted essays mined contradictions: immigrant versus citizen; service worker versus client; insider versus outsider; urban versus rural; poverty versus wealth; acceptance versus rebellion; individual versus family. Every day, we navigate opposing forces in our lives. These struggles—often rich, and full of tension—make for excellent essay topics. Ask yourself this: Do you straddle the line between ethnicities, religions, generations, languages, or locales? If so, how? In what ways do you feel like you are stuck between two worlds, or like you are an outsider? Examining the essential contradictions in your own life will provide you with fodder for a fascinating, insightful college essay.  
• The magic is in the details — especially the sensory ones. Sensory details bring writing to life by allowing readers to experience how something looks, sounds, smells, tastes, or feels. In his American dream-themed essay about his immigrant mother cleaning the apartment of two professors, Jonathan Ababiy describes “the whir,” “suction,” and “squeal” of her “blue Hoover vacuum” as it leaps across “miles of carpet.” These descriptions allow us to both hear and see the symbolic vacuum in action. The slice-of-life familial essay by Idalia Felipe–the only essay to be published in The Times’ Snapchat Discover feature–opens with a scene: “As I sit facing our thirteen-year old refrigerator, my stomach growls at the scent of handmade tortillas and meat sizzling on the stove.” Immediately, we are brought inside Felipe’s home with its distinctive smells and sounds; our stomach seems to growl alongside hers. Use descriptive, sensory language to engage your reader, bring them into your world, and make your writing shine.
• One-sentence paragraphs are catchy . A one-sentence paragraph, as I’m sure you’ve gleaned, is a paragraph that is only one sentence long. The form has been employed by everyone from Tim O’Brien to Charles Dickens and, now, the writers of this year’s featured Times college essays. “I live on the edge,” Ms. Treborn declares at the beginning of her poetic essay on the differences between her mother and father’s worlds. “The most exciting part was the laptop,” asserts Zoe Sottile, the recipient of the Tang Scholarship at Phillips Academy in her essay about the mutability and complexity of class identity. Starting your essay with a one-sentence paragraph—a line of description, a scene, or a question, for example—is a great way to hook the reader. You could also use a one-sentence paragraph mid-essay to emphasize a point, as Ms. Treborn does, or in your conclusion. A one-sentence paragraph is one of many tricks that you have in your writing toolkit to make your reader pause and take notice.
• The Familiar Can Be Fascinating. The most daring essay this year, a rant on the imbalances of power embedded in the service industry by Caitlin McCormick, delivers us into the world of a family bed and breakfast with its clinking silverware and cantankerous guests demanding twice-a-day room cleanings. In Ms. Felipe’s more atmospheric piece, we enter her home before dinnertime where we see her attempting to study while her sisters giggle and watch Youtube cat videos. These are the environments these students grew up in, and they inspired everything from frustration at glaring class inequalities to gratitude for the dream of a better life. Rather than feeling like you have to write about something monumental, focus on the familiar, and consider how your environment has shaped you. How did you grow up—in the restaurant business, on a farm, in a house full of artists, construction workers, or judges? Bring us into your world, describing it meticulously and thoughtfully. Tease out the connection between your environment and who you are/what you strive for today and you will be embarking on the path of meaningful self-discovery, which is the key to college essay success.

About Nina Bailey

View all posts by Nina Bailey »

Written by Nina Bailey

Category: advice , Essay Tips , Essay Writing , New York Times , Uncategorized

Tags: advice , college admissions , college admissions essay , college essay , college essay advisors , common application , tips , writing

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Science News , Science News for Students

The New York Times and Science News are accepting submissions for the 2022 STEM Writing Contest!

By Kevin Easterly

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a science journalist? To explore some of the natural world’s most fascinating phenomena and ponderous mysteries, and share your findings with learners and lectiophiles near and far?

Now is your chance! The New York Times is currently accepting submissions for its 3 rd Annual STEM Writing Contest . As part of the Learning Network , the contest is a collaboration between The New York Times and Society for Science to challenge young writers to hone their scientific communications skills—and curate a platform to highlight their emerging talents.

To submit an essay, you must be a middle or high school student between the ages of 11 and 19. The contest is open to young writers anywhere in the world. Every submission will be reviewed by science journalists Learning Network staff and STEM educators from across the United States. They will then select some of the best essays to be published on the New York Times .

Essays should be about a topic you are genuinely interested in and curious about, something that you are excited to share with other people. This can be anything from the fields of science, technology, engineering, math or health. It can be something you first learned about in school, or maybe something you have encountered in your everyday life. The best essay topics are often personal, drawn from something that you have a special reason to care about.

All essays must be under 500 words, so choose your topic carefully—you don’t want to pick a subject so expansive that you can’t complete your analysis in the space allotted. Please note, too, that all essays must be previously unpublished.

If you’re looking for inspiration, you can read some of last year’s winning essays , on subjects ranging from Stradivarius violins to the 17-year slumber of Brood X cicadas . Or take some notes from the pros by exploring the latest articles in Science News and Science News for Students .

Ready to write? Then fire up that word processor because the deadline to submit essays is approaching fast: all submissions are due by tomorrow, Wednesday, March 9 , at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.

You can find the complete set of guidelines and judging rubric, along with the instructions for submitting essays on the New York Times website .

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77 New York Times Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best new york times topic ideas & essay examples, 🔎 good research topics about new york times, 💡 interesting topics to write about new york times.

• Plagiarism in the Real World: Jayson Blair and the New York Times One of the notorious cases of plagiarism is the Jason Blair scandal that happened in 2003. Another example of real-world plagiarism is Melania Trump’s speech at the Republican National Convention in 2016.
• “Mind over Mass Media” Steven Pinker Article in New York Times The Internet is not dangerous by itself and does not lead to the development of emotional and psychological disorders; instead, when used reasonably, electronic media hold a promise to improve the health and wellbeing of […] We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
• Biden’s Push to Increase Tax on the Rich From New York Times The major reason for this news is Biden’s will to increase taxes for the rich to fund his plan of reshaping the economy.
• Healthcare Workforce in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic: The New York Times and the Washington Post Hence, the primary aim of the present report is to analyze how such media sources as The New York Times and The Washington Post convey the data concerning the current state of the healthcare workforce […]
• Past Newspaper Articles Analysis: The New York Times In comparison to the previous stories published 100 years ago, New York Times has a habit of making the chaotic and the most important issues, headlines.
• The New York Times Newspaper’s Strategic Management Considering the analysis of the business performance, and the related aspects of the publishing business, there is a strong necessity to emphasize that the New York Times should focus on the issues of strategic management […]
• Judicial Conduct Unbecoming by The New York Times Nevertheless, Luis Gonzalez, presiding justice of the Bronx and Manhattan’s appellate division, have instituted personal patronage “in his part of the court system”.
• Ecuadorian Mass Protests Due to Moreno’s New Austerity Measures The problem of protests and mass unrest in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was also discussed in the articles by Joe Emersberger and Michael Weissenstein and Gonzalo Solano.
• Newsworthy Articles from the New York Times This means that the targeted new information is current and interesting to the identified consumers, affects the greatest number of people, is appropriate to individuals near the event, involves prominent individuals, and evokes significant human […]
• The New York Times Editorial Evaluation Publications by the Editorial board of The New York Times announce the opinions of the board itself, the editor, and the publisher.
• Leadership at The New York Times Newspaper Wisdom comes in handy when the leader is balancing the interests of shareholders such that the leader’s actions lead to the common good.
• Civil Liberty: NY Times v. United States Did the United States government show the justification for the need to meet the heavy burden for prior restraint on freedom of the press?
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IvyPanda. (2023, February 27). 77 New York Times Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/new-york-times-essay-topics/

"77 New York Times Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." IvyPanda , 27 Feb. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/new-york-times-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '77 New York Times Essay Topic Ideas & Examples'. 27 February.

IvyPanda . 2023. "77 New York Times Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." February 27, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/new-york-times-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "77 New York Times Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." February 27, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/new-york-times-essay-topics/.

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IvyPanda . "77 New York Times Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." February 27, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/new-york-times-essay-topics/.

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How to successfully pitch The New York Times (or, well, anyone else)

Freelancing is tough! It can be an unpredictable, unreliable grind, and sometimes things fall through even if you’ve done everything right.

As Smarter Living editor at The New York Times, the bulk of my job is working with freelancers. On the slowest days, I’ll get around a dozen cold pitches in my inbox; on busy days, almost 200 . (Lol sorry if I owe you an email, promise I’m working on it.)

The thousands of pitches I’ve read over the last few years usually fall into one of three categories: great (very few), something we can work with (a small, but decent, amount) and bad (everything else).

But most bad pitches are bad for the same few reasons, and they’re often salvageable with some tweaking. After consulting with about a dozen editors who commission stories at publications ranging from small, niche blogs to national magazines and newspapers, I’ve pulled together the six most common mistakes freelancers make when pitching — and what you can do to impress an editor.

You don’t know what your story is.

Most editors are willing to take a chance on a great story idea, even from a new writer — 75 percent of the stories I commissioned last year were from first-time New York Times writers. But we can’t help you if you don’t know what you’re pitching.

The most common variant is this: “Hi, I’m a freelance writer and I’m interested in covering [x topic] for your section.” I’m glad you’re interested, but…what’s the story?

Another version is the super-lengthy email pitching a meandering, unfocused “look,” “exploration,” or “deep dive” into a topic. I’m glad you’ve thought so much about your topic, but don’t forget to think of the actual story you’re telling.

Even worse: You want me to tell you what your story is.

“Freelancers should always come with story ideas,” said Sarah Kessler , deputy editor of Quartz at Work . “I get a lot of emails that just say, ‘I’d like to be a contributor for Quartz at Work.’ That isn’t much help.”

A good safeguard against this is to write a solid, clear, powerful nut graf. It’ll be just a draft — after all, you won’t have done all the reporting for the story yet — but knowing exactly what your story is about is crucial to piquing an editor’s interest.

You didn’t check the archives.

Even if you think you have the most original idea in the world, and you’re 100 percent sure the outlet you’re pitching has never done it, check to see if the outlet has already done it. Then check again. Skipping this step shows you’re either blindly shooting off pitches en masse, or you just don’t care enough to look.

Meet your new best friend: Google site search . Just type “site:[newsoutlet.com] [your keywords]” and you’re set. ( Do not rely on a news outlet’s built-in search engine .)

“Pitching a version of something I’ve already published, or a version of something the writer has already published but for a different pub” never works out, said Lisa Bonos , editor of Solo-ish at The Washington Post. “This latter one REALLY gets me. You don’t get to sell the same personal essay more than once. If you’re writing a variation on a story you’ve told before, be upfront about how this new story is different.”

You pitched the wrong editor or section.

It’s sloppy and it shows you didn’t do the basic research required to get your story published. Be absolutely sure that your idea fits within the section or outlet you’re pitching, and that you’re emailing the right editor.

“Pitching me something that doesn’t make any sense for the publication, subject-wise or tonally, shows me you haven’t read through the site,” said Gina Vaynshteyn , editor-in-chief at First Media . “If you haven’t done your homework, I wonder how diligent you’ll be about your story.”

You’re too aggressive with following up.

“It’s O.K. to follow up on unanswered pitches, but wait a week, not 24 hours,” said Kristin Iversen , executive editor of Nylon . “When a freelancer’s pitches are turned down, they should not follow up with more pitches a day or two later; please don’t pitch me more than once a month, unless it’s something very timely.”

Your story is too low-stakes or narrow.

This mistake is a little hard to define, but it probably accounts for at least half of the stories I decline. If you’re going to ask an editor to pay you for your idea, make sure it’s an idea worth paying for. Think scope, reach, and impact.

This problem emerges in a lot of ways, but the most common issues I see are: Your story requires very little — or no — reporting; it could be written by anyone; it applies to a very small demographic (caveat: this isn’t a problem if that’s intentional and the publication is interested in that audience); your story has a very limited shelf-life (again, not a problem if that’s intentional and you know the outlet would be interested); or it just doesn’t have any sweep or scope. Editors want important, substantive stories.

Ask yourself: If an editor responded and said, “So what? Who cares?” — would you have a real answer?

You don’t disclose conflicts of interest.

Most publications have codes of ethics and/or guidelines around conflict-of-interest disclosures. They can vary widely, so always — always! — err on the side of over-disclosure. The worst-case scenario is that outlet finds out you had a conflict after publication (and they will find out), which usually results in a correction with the disclosure and that writer possibly being blacklisted from the publication.

A travel editor at an international outlet shared this story:

I’m not allowed to accept press trips, and same goes for people who write for us. I can usually tell when someone went on a press junket even if they don’t disclose it, because multiple writers all pitch me the same story about the same destination all at once. Often, it was a trip I was invited on myself and had to decline. A writer pitched me one of these stories, and I wrote her back politely giving her a heads-up about the no-press-trips rule. Her response: “You must have figured out I was on a press trip because YOU’RE STALKING ME.” Good tip: Don’t accuse editors of stalking you. And also be honest about stuff.

So now you know what not to do — here’s what you should do. It boils down to basically three things:

Be concise yet informative.

Very few cold pitches need to be more than, say, 10 sentences, and the best ones are often less.

Explain why anyone should care.

Get me interested to learn more, but more important, make me want to tell this story to the readers of my publication.

Show that you can pull it off.

If you want to pitch the huge, ambitious, weighty feature you’ve been mulling over months, go for it. But make sure you’ve laid out how you’re going to put it together, along with the clips to demonstrate that a story like this is within your range.

“The best freelancers use their pitches to showcase their writing skills — especially when pitching an editor for the first time,” said Nick Baumann , an editor at HuffPost. “A pitch gives me a better sense of your raw copy than your edited clips do. If your pitch has a fascinating, beautifully written lede, your story probably will, too. If the pitch is confusing, the filed story is likely to be, too.”

To end, here’s one of the best cold pitches I’ve ever gotten. This was my first interaction with this writer — Anna Goldfarb — and she’s since become a regular New York Times contributor :

Hello! I saw your call for pitches so I figured I’d toss my hat in the ring. Let me know if any of these ideas resonate! [She had sent three different ideas, but I’m including only the one I accepted and later published.] (Essay) What I wish I’d known before moving in with my boyfriend — I’d always pictured moving in with a guy like diving into a pool; a graceful, swift action. It turns out I was absolutely wrong. Instead of a dive, it was like doing the Macarena, in that there’s a series of steps that need to be executed in a certain order for it to be considered a success. A little bit about me: I’m a culture and food writer based in Philly. I’m currently a contributor to Elle , The Kitchn , Refinery29 , Thrillist and more. You can see my full list of writing clips here . Thanks for your consideration!

Why’s this so good? Four simple reasons: There’s no filler; she told me everything I need to know about the idea without getting bogged down in irrelevant details; she knows exactly the story she’s pitching and how to execute it ; and she sent clips with a link to more.

Yes, it’s that simple. Don’t overthink it.

Tim Herrera is Smarter Living editor at The New York Times.

Cite this article Hide citations

Herrera, Tim. "How to successfully pitch The New York Times (or, well, anyone else)." Nieman Journalism Lab . Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard, 22 Oct. 2018. Web. 27 Mar. 2024.

Herrera, T. (2018, Oct. 22). How to successfully pitch The New York Times (or, well, anyone else). Nieman Journalism Lab . Retrieved March 27, 2024, from https://www.niemanlab.org/2018/10/how-to-successfully-pitch-the-new-york-times-or-well-anyone-else/

Herrera, Tim. "How to successfully pitch The New York Times (or, well, anyone else)." Nieman Journalism Lab . Last modified October 22, 2018. Accessed March 27, 2024. https://www.niemanlab.org/2018/10/how-to-successfully-pitch-the-new-york-times-or-well-anyone-else/.

{{cite web     | url = https://www.niemanlab.org/2018/10/how-to-successfully-pitch-the-new-york-times-or-well-anyone-else/     | title = How to successfully pitch The New York Times (or, well, anyone else)     | last = Herrera     | first = Tim     | work = [[Nieman Journalism Lab]]     | date = 22 October 2018     | accessdate = 27 March 2024     | ref = {{harvid|Herrera|2018}} }}

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Why Some Companies Grow Amid Uncertainty — and Others Don’t

• Simon Freakley
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A survey of 3,000 global executives suggests that it’s not strategic thinking that sets them apart. It’s their inclination to move quickly.

When you cannot base strategy on reasonably certain premises — or when those reasonable premises are undone by unforeseeable events — what is a company to do? You still have to make plans, allocate capital, and invest for the future. Some argue that agility is the key to thriving in disruptive times, but if all you do is pivot, you are just going around in circles. The annual AlixPartners Disruption Index surveys 3,000 global executives about what is knocking them sideways. Among other things, it shows that three out of five say that it is increasingly challenging to know which disruptive forces to prioritize. Amid all this, there is a group of companies doing very well: about one in five said their companies lead their industry in revenue growth. In this article, the authors dig into that 2024 data to find out what sets these companies apart, and what other companies can learn from them about setting growth strategy in an uncertain world.

Strategic planning plays a key role in helping companies anticipate and manage business cycles. But forces like emerging digital technologies, climate change, and deglobalization — not to mention “black swan” events like the Covid-19 pandemic and wars — have turned a rolling sea into a choppy one, where companies are beset by currents, crosscurrents, riptides, and squalls. This multiplicity of related, unrelated, and inter-related difficulties have one thing in common: They are unpredictable.

• SF Simon Freakley is the Chief Executive Officer of AlixPartners, a post he has held since 2015. He is based in New York.
• David Garfield is a Chicago-based partner and managing director of AlixPartners, and the global leader for the firm’s industry practices.

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