NY Times Launches Program to Give Online Subscriptions to High School Students
The New York Times is launching a new program that will allow its subscribers and others interested in helping to support journalism and education by sponsoring online subscriptions to students in public schools.
The program is a direct response to the numerous unsolicited contributions and offers to purchase large volumes of subscriptions the Times has received from its readers since the 2016 presidential election. These funds will be used to open up NYTimes.com access to public school students, particularly in underfunded schools and districts throughout the country, the news organization said on its company website.
The Times will also open up unlimited access to its Learning Network and its archive of lesson plans, a popular teaching resource for school teachers.
“The generosity of our readers and their interest in helping to sustain the health and independence of New York Times journalism has been heartening,” said Times Publisher Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. in a statement. “We’re delighted that the funds these readers are providing will help to support the journalism that will empower the next generation of readers as they come to better understand the world around them.”
To date, funds received have sponsored 6,500 high school students at five public schools, providing them with free access to NYTimes.com. The Times will match contributions to double the number of students who will benefit from the generosity of these readers.
The Times’ commitment to education dates back to the 1930s, when Iphigene Ochs Sulzberger responded to teachers’ requests to receive newspapers for classroom use. Since the launch of its Newspaper in Education program in succeeding years, iterations of this effort continue today and extend to both K–12 and colleges and universities.
For information on how to contribute to this program, contact [email protected].
About the Author
Richard Chang is associate editor of THE Journal. He can be reached at [email protected].