Behind the Times: Inside the New New York Times

by Edwin Diamond

An incisive examination of the world's most respected paper, Behind the Times tells the story of changing Times ian values and of a new era for the paper—a tale of editorial struggles, star columnists and critics, institutional self-importance, and the political and cultural favorites of the Times' owners and editors. Taking the reader inside the Times' newsrooms and executive offices, Diamond offers an expert, insider's appraisal of how the Times and its editors continue to shape coverage of major public events for over one million readers. Diamond goes behind the scenes to recount the paper's recent and much heralded plan to win larger audiences and hold on to its dominant position in the new media landscape of celebrity journalism and hundred-channel television.

"Edwin Diamond's Behind the Times sets the Paper of Record straight—a fascinating look at the people and policies, the dissension and debate behind the seemingly serene masthead of the New York Times. No newsroom is a Garden of Eden, and only the rare reporter wears a the Times, not surprisingly, is an imperfect place. But Edwin Diamond is careful to note the triumph as well as the turmoil at this great American newspaper. The result is a window on the changing world of journalism today."—Dan Rather

Genres: Nonfiction, Journalism, New York

450 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Edwin Diamond was born in Chicago and was a reporter, writer and senior editor at Newsweek from 1958 to 1970, where he covered the space program. He later worked at The New York Daily News, Adweek magazine, New York magazine, The Washington Journalism Review and in television in Washington.

Among his professional awards was the Page One Award, which he received from the Newspaper Guilds of Chicago, Washington and New York.

Diamond received bachelor's and graduate degrees from the University of Chicago. He wrote 11 books, including The Rise and Fall of the Space Age (Doubleday, 1964), The Spot The Rise of Political Advertising on Television (M.I.T. Press, 1984), and Behind The Times Inside the New New York Times (Villard Books, 1993). His articles appeared in many publications, including Harper's, The New York Times Magazine, Esquire and The Nation.

Diamond was also a professor at the Department of Journalism at New York University from 1984 to 1997. He was a fellow, lecturer and professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1970 until 1985, where he was also head of the news study group and a frequent contributor to The New York Times.

Edwin Diamond, PhB'47, AM'49, a journalist, author, and NYU professor, died due to heart failure on July 10, 1997 at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan. He was 72. After starting his career as a science writer with the International News Service in Chicago, he joined Newsweek in 1957, becoming a senior editor in 1962. He was an on-air commentator for the Washington Post Co., editorial director of Adweek, and cofounder of the Washington Journalism Review. A WWII veteran and a Korean War Army intelligence officer, Diamond received both a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. An associate editor of the New York Daily News in the early 1980s, and a media columnist for New York magazine for 10 years, Diamond was a visiting professor of political science at MIT before joining NYU's faculty in 1984. He wrote a dozen books and won numerous awards for writing, editing, and classroom teaching, as well as a 1994 Professional Achievement Award from the U of C's Alumni Association. He is survived by his wife, Adelina Lust Diamond, AB'47; three daughters, including Ellen Diamond Waldman, AB'73; a sister, Natalie Diamond Peiser, AB'50; and six grandchildren.