Recent information on journalists being fired from *The New York Times. Historical cases included.
Below is a summary of notable instances where journalists left or were fired from *The New York Times*, focusing on high-profile cases and patterns, with an emphasis on verified information.
### Notable Historical Cases of Journalists Leaving *The New York Times*
1. **Donald G. McNeil Jr. (2021)**
- **Reason**: Resigned after controversy over using a racial slur during a 2019 *New York Times*-sponsored student trip to Peru. The Daily Beast reported the incident, prompting over 150 staffers to sign a letter expressing outrage over the initial lenient response (a reprimand). McNeil apologized, stating he used the slur in a discussion about its use by another student, but acknowledged it was inappropriate regardless of context. He resigned under pressure from editors Dean Baquet and Joe Kahn, who cited a loss of newsroom trust.[](https://www.npr.org/2021/02/06/964618301/two-prominent-new-york-times-journalists-depart-over-past-behavior)[](https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/01/media/donald-mcneil-speaks-out/index.html)[](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/01/business/donald-mcneil-new-york-times-racial-slur.html)
- **Context**: McNeil was a veteran science reporter, pivotal in the *Times*’ COVID-19 coverage, making his departure significant. He later published a lengthy defense, criticizing *Times* leadership for mishandling the situation and alleging misrepresentation by The Daily Beast.[](https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/01/media/donald-mcneil-speaks-out/index.html)[](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/01/business/donald-mcneil-new-york-times-racial-slur.html)
2. **Andy Mills (2021)**
- **Reason**: Resigned following scrutiny over his role in the flawed *Caliphate* podcast and past allegations of inappropriate behavior toward female colleagues at WNYC, his previous employer. After *The New York Times* retracted parts of *Caliphate* due to fabricated accounts by a key source, Mills faced renewed criticism for prior incidents, including giving a colleague a back rub and pouring a drink on another’s head. He cited a “pressure campaign” as making his position untenable.[](https://www.npr.org/2021/02/06/964618301/two-prominent-new-york-times-journalists-depart-over-past-behavior)[](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/05/business/media/donald-mcneil-andy-mills-leave-nyt.html)[](https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2021/02/05/new-york-times-donald-mcneil-andy-mills-depart/)
- **Context**: The *Caliphate* fallout, combined with resurfaced allegations, led to his exit, highlighting issues of workplace conduct and editorial accountability.
3. **Lauren Wolfe (2021)**
- **Reason**: Fired as a freelance editor after tweeting she had “chills” watching Joe Biden’s plane land before his inauguration, which drew accusations of bias from conservative critics. The *Times* claimed her dismissal was not solely due to the tweet, but Wolfe argued it was the primary reason, accusing the paper of smearing her reputation. She later defended her stance, arguing journalists can have biases while maintaining fairness in reporting.[](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/jan/25/lauren-wolfe-new-york-times-editor-fired-biden-tweet)[](https://www.foxnews.com/media/fired-new-york-times-editor-newspaper-dismissal-reputation)[](https://www.foxnews.com/media/new-york-times-lauren-wolfe-biased-journalist)
- **Context**: The incident sparked debate about social media policies and perceived political neutrality, with critics noting inconsistent enforcement (e.g., reporter Glenn Thrush was not fired after 2017 misconduct allegations).[](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/jan/25/lauren-wolfe-new-york-times-editor-fired-biden-tweet)
4. **James Bennet (2020)**
- **Reason**: Resigned as editorial page editor after backlash over publishing a controversial op-ed by Senator Tom Cotton titled “Send in the Troops,” advocating military action against 2020 protests. Over 800 staff members protested, arguing the piece endangered Black staff and contained misinformation. Publisher A.G. Sulzberger cited a “breakdown in editing processes” as the reason for Bennet’s exit.[](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/jun/07/new-york-times-editor-resigns-tom-cotton-oped-protests)[](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/07/business/media/james-bennet-resigns-nytimes-op-ed.html)[](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9230137/Top-New-York-Times-reporter-RESIGNS-apologizes-bad-judgement-use-N-word.html)
- **Context**: The resignation reflected tensions over editorial standards and the influence of internal and social media pressure on newsroom decisions.
5. **Bari Weiss (2020)**
- **Reason**: Resigned as an opinion editor, citing an “illiberal environment” at the *Times*. In her resignation letter, she accused the paper of stifling diverse viewpoints, alleging bullying by colleagues who labeled her a racist and bigot. She claimed Twitter had become the paper’s “ultimate editor,” shaping stories to appease narrow audiences.[](https://www.bariweiss.com/resignation-letter)[](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-07-14/bari-weiss-new-york-times-resignation)[](https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/14/media/bari-weiss-resigns-new-york-times/index.html)
- **Context**: Weiss’s exit fueled debates about “cancel culture” and journalistic freedom, with supporters praising her critique and detractors arguing she exaggerated her grievances.
6. **Jayson Blair (2003)**
- **Reason**: Resigned after an investigation revealed widespread plagiarism and fabrication in his articles. The *Times* published a 7,239-word front-page story detailing his journalistic fraud, including filing false reports from locations he never visited and lifting material from other sources.[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayson_Blair)[](https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/11/us/correcting-the-record-times-reporter-who-resigned-leaves-long-trail-of-deception.html)
- **Context**: The scandal was a low point for the *Times*, prompting internal reforms and damaging public trust. Blair later wrote a memoir, *Burning Down My Masters’ House*, discussing his bipolar disorder and race dynamics at the paper.
### Patterns and Observations
- **Reasons for Departures**: Firings or resignations at *The New York Times* often stem from controversies involving workplace conduct (e.g., McNeil, Mills), perceived bias (e.g., Wolfe), editorial decisions (e.g., Bennet), or journalistic integrity (e.g., Blair). These cases highlight the paper’s sensitivity to public and internal criticism, especially in the social media era.
- **Social Media Influence**: Several cases (Weiss, Wolfe, Bennet) underscore how social media amplifies controversies, with Twitter (now X) often cited as a driver of internal and external pressure.[](https://www.bariweiss.com/resignation-letter)[](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-07-14/bari-weiss-new-york-times-resignation)[](https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/14/media/bari-weiss-resigns-new-york-times/index.html)
- **Internal Tensions**: Staff protests and letters (e.g., McNeil, Bennet) indicate a newsroom grappling with issues of race, bias, and workplace culture, often spilling into public view.[](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/02/12/donald-mcneil-new-york-times-fallout/)[](https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2021/02/05/new-york-times-donald-mcneil-andy-mills-depart/)[](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9230137/Top-New-York-Times-reporter-RESIGNS-apologizes-bad-judgement-use-N-word.html)
- **Inconsistent Discipline**: Critics have noted disparities in how the *Times* handles misconduct. For example, Glenn Thrush retained his job after 2017 sexual misconduct allegations with a two-month suspension, while Wolfe was fired over a single tweet.[](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/jan/25/lauren-wolfe-new-york-times-editor-fired-biden-tweet)
- **Economic Layoffs**: While not specific to journalists, *The New York Times* laid off over 100 employees by 2010 during the Great Recession, reflecting broader industry challenges. Recent X posts suggest budget-related layoffs may continue, with one user claiming 700 staff were cut last year, though this lacks corroboration from reliable sources.[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times)
### Current Sentiment (2025)
- No verified reports of recent firings in 2025 have emerged from credible sources. An X post from June 26, 2025, suggests the *Times* may cut staff for budget reasons due to declining readership, but this is speculative and not substantiated by official reports.
- The lack of recent data may indicate a quieter period or underreporting. If you’re seeking specific 2025 incidents, I can search for real-time information if needed.
### Critical Perspective
The *Times* faces ongoing scrutiny for balancing journalistic integrity, workplace culture, and public perception. Cases like McNeil and Bennet suggest a newsroom where internal activism and external criticism can lead to swift leadership decisions, sometimes perceived as reactive or inconsistent. The influence of social media, as Weiss noted, raises questions about whether editorial decisions prioritize appeasing vocal audiences over fostering open debate. Meanwhile, economic pressures, as seen in historical layoffs, reflect broader challenges in print media.[](https://www.bariweiss.com/resignation-letter)[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times)
If you’re looking for details on a specific journalist, incident, or timeframe in 2025, please provide more details, and I can tailor the response or conduct a targeted search. Alternatively, I can analyze related X posts or web content for sentiment or additional context.
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