Did Edward Snowden hurt the New York Times’ feelings?

Ami Kaufman By Ami Kaufman June 10, 2013 | Edit

Why is one of the biggest stories of the past few years, and perhaps the biggest leak in U.S. history, being sidelined by the New York Times?

The story about the U.S. government’s surveillance tactics got even “better” on Sunday, as the man who leaked it became public in a YouTube video. Edward Snowden was interviewed by lawyer and blogger Glenn Greenwald from his hotel room in Hong Kong, where he is currently in hiding.

This story is big. One of the biggest ever, for obvious reasons. Daniel Ellsberg, responsible for leaking the Pentagon Papers, has said that “there has not been in American history a more important leak than Edward Snowden’s release of NSA material.”

No doubt, this is a great story for Greenwald and The Guardian. You know, one of the most important newspapers in the world? It’s quite well known.

But maybe not. Former Haaretz Editor-in-Chief Dov Alfon posted a screenshot on his Facebook wall of how the New York Times decided to refer to The Guardian. Simply as “a British newspaper” (click for larger image):

Did Edward Snowden hurt the New York Times’ feelings?

As Snowden’s name spread over the web and became the lead story of every respectable news outlet, this is how the NYT homepage looked, compared to The Guardian’s at 14:00 (Israel local time. Click for larger image):

Did Edward Snowden hurt the New York Times’ feelings?That’s it, just below the (important, yes) story on immigration.

Ami Kaufman

Ami Kaufman was chief night editor for Haaretz, for the prominent Israeli financial daily Calcalist, and correspondent on Israeli affairs for 93.6 RAM FM, a joint Palestinian-Israel radio station. His interest in food and cooking led to culinary studies at the "Israeli CIA" (Tadmor, Herzliya) and a brief stint in the restaurant business. Born in Tel Aviv, Ami lives in Bat Yam with his wife and two daughters. In his spare time he blogs at Half & Half.

End of article module for Members

TEST TEST GAL Our team has been devastated by the horrific events of this latest war. The world is reeling from Israel’s unprecedented onslaught on Gaza, inflicting mass devastation and death upon besieged Palestinians, as well as the atrocious attack and kidnappings by Hamas in Israel on October 7. Our hearts are with all the people and communities facing this violence.    We are in an extraordinarily dangerous era in Israel-Palestine. The bloodshed has reached extreme levels of brutality and threatens to engulf the entire region. Emboldened settlers in the West Bank, backed by the army, are seizing the opportunity to intensify their attacks on Palestinians. The most far-right government in Israel’s history is ramping up its policing of dissent, using the cover of war to silence Palestinian citizens and left-wing Jews who object to its policies.   This escalation has a very clear context, one that +972 has spent the past 14 years covering: Israeli society’s growing racism and militarism, entrenched occupation and apartheid, and a normalized siege on Gaza.   We are well positioned to cover this perilous moment – but we need your help to do it. This terrible period will challenge the humanity of all of those working for a better future in this land. Palestinians and Israelis are already organizing and strategizing to put up the fight of their lives.   Can we count on your support? +972 Magazine is a leading media voice of this movement, a desperately needed platform where Palestinian and Israeli journalists, activists, and thinkers can report on and analyze what is happening, guided by humanism, equality, and justice. Join us.

Make a Donation