Sulzberger Claims NYT Won't Run Pieces "Denying Basic Truths" - Uh, Too Late . . .
The publisher of the New York Times, Arthur O. Sulzberger Jr., does not seem to grasp exactly why so many readers canceled their subscriptions after the paper hired Bret Stephens. Stephens, a columnist with a record of denying and misrepresenting the science behind climate change, then proceeded to publish two separate columns, and an online post, repeating those views.
In a personal note to readers who specifically mentioned Stephens as a reason behind their decision to cancel their subscription, Sulzberger defended the decision and Stephens. “We feel very fortunate to have a principled, independent-minded conservative writer like Bret Stephens join our team,” he wrote.
Sulzberger offers no response to the many scientists, columnists, and readers who were critical of the error-riddled and misleading columns the Times published. At the same time, his tone-deaf letter insists that “some points of view are not welcome” in the Times, including those “denying basic truths about our world.” It’s not clear how it is either principled or independent-minded of Stephens to repeat long-debunked right-wing myths, to compare climate scientists to Stalinists and anti-Semites, and, as recently as November 2015, to call concern over climate change “hysteria,” and to label global warming and campus rape statistics “imaginary enemies.”
EDIT
As Susan Joy Hassol, a leading climate change communicator and expert, wrote back to Sulzberger (in a note she shared with ThinkProgress): “You clearly missed my point.”
The problem with Bret Stephens is not that he is conservative, but that he is uninformed about the subjects he wrote about in his first NY Times columns, and is misleading your readers. I am surprised that you are not distinguishing between facts and opinions.
Hassol points to the “numerous errors and misleading statements” refuted by top scientists in an open letter and to the “uninformed and misleading” second column, debunked here.
EDIT
https://thinkprogress.org/nytimes-publisher-proud-of-bret-stephens-hire-8d8e7d2056cd