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The times they are a-changin’ at the NYT… A year ago, the New York Times Co. viewed itself as “a global media organization dedicated to enhancing society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news and information,” according to its third-quarter press release.
No more. The Old Gray Lady is fun & games these days. It now calls itself “a trusted source of quality, independent journalism whose mission is to seek the truth and help people understand the world,” says the Q3 2021 release.
“With more than 8 million subscriptions across a diverse array of print and digital products—from news to cooking to games—The Times has evolved from a local and regional news leader into a diversified media company with curious readers, listeners and viewers around the globe.”
The NYTC added 455K net new digital subs during the third quarter. That included 322K subs for News and 135K for Games, Cooking and Wirecutter.
CEO Meredith Kopit Levien plans to test digital products for audio and kids in the coming months.
Can digital comics be far behind?
Telling it like it is… “There are markets we put a lot of money in that didn’t work out,” said Arvind Krishna, CEO of IBM, which has just spun off its IT services business.
The new company named Kyndryl, which generated 25 percent of IBM’s $74B revenues last year, began trading on the Big Board on Nov. 4 and opened at $28.50. Kyndryl is running ads on the electronic billboards in Grand Central Terminal boasting that its systems power the five top airlines.
IBM has been in constant shrinkage mode since revenues peaked at $107B in 2011. The company made a big bet on services during the 1990s as a way to boost sales of its mainframes. It eventually lost that bet as clients shifted their computing needs to the clouds run by Microsoft and Amazon.
Wall Street valued Microsoft and IBM at more than $200B ten years ago. Microsoft hit the $2.5T mark this week to pass Apple as the world’s most valuable company. IBM is a mere speck in Microsoft’s rear view window with a market value of $100B.
Krishna, who took over IBM a year ago, promises shareholders that the company will reinvent itself once again. He says “Today’s IBM” will focus on the “two most transformational technologies of our time: hybrid cloud and AI.” Let’s hope IBM gets it right this time.
A person who has her head in the clouds is said to be scatterbrained, absentminded or impractical. For IBM, getting its head in the clouds is a matter of life or death.
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Spice marketer McCormick & Co. is first out of the gate to publicize its win of Prince Charles’ Terra Carta Seal for sustainability. Malcolm Swift, president, global flavor solutions, EMEA & chief administrative officer at McCormick, received the award from Charles.
He expressed delight “to be recognized as a global leader for our ongoing sustainability journey,” according to the company’s Nov. 3 press release.
FTI Consulting handles media inquiries about the award earned by the 132-year-old company based in Hunt Valley, MD.
Forty four other companies earned the Prince’s inaugural seal of approval. Who will be next to tout the Terra Carta?
Andrew Cuomo's political career is not dead yet... Steve Bannon says Republicans should learn from Zohran Mamdani and his Working Families Party and Democratic Socialists of America, instead of mocking them... Internet advertising model is on the way out, says Tim Berners-Lee... Gannet rebrands as USA Today Inc. What about its other 200 papers?
Thomas Jefferson warned about the dangers of an imperial president who would deny an election loss in a bid to cling to power. Sound familiar?... Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says reporters don't need his permisson to take a photo of the Pentagon's 9/11 memorial, as long as they are not on the job... Kirkland and Ellison lawyers need some negotiating tips. 
Shareholder activitism is poised to hit an all-time high for 2025... Kamala Harris’ “107 Days” reads like an autospsy of her failed presidential run. Democrats need to look forward, not backward... The Reagan Foundation dishonored The Gipper by providing PR cover to tariff-loving Trump.
Donald Trump wraps up his most-eventful week and readies to meet China's leader. What could go wrong?... Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth bestows blessing on Pillow Guy Mike Lindell's LindellTV... How does Trump's "America First" mesh with $20B "Argentina First" bailout?
Trump-connected Ballard Partners, Continental Strategy and Checkmate Government Relations shine in federal lobbying rankings... More Americans view Trump as a "dangerous dictator" than a "strong leader."... Rep. Gregory Meeks wants to give Marco Rubio a chance to refute his outrageous claim that nobody has died due to the dismantling of the Agency of International Development... Three cheers for Robert Dechert who saves his Dallas Morning News from the clutches of Alden Global Capital. 
