Explore a century of New York City's rich history, as captured by National Geographic photographers
A Century of New York City Coverage: Evolution and Transformation
New York City, a vibrant metropolis that has captivated the world, has been extensively covered by various media outlets over the last century. One such publication that has left an indelible mark on the city's narrative is The New York Times.
Early 20th Century: In its early days, The New York Times established itself as a globally respected paper, known for its restrained, objective reporting and extensive international news. It covered major events like the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 with aggressive, detailed reporting and continued on-the-ground coverage through both World Wars.
1920s-1930s: During this period, the paper emphasized political developments, exemplified by early coverage of Benito Mussolini’s rise and editorial campaigns, such as opposing FDR’s Supreme Court packing plan in 1937.
Mid-20th Century: The Times expanded its cultural coverage, introducing pastimes like crosswords during WWII, reflecting public mood. Coverage also included significant foreign affairs reporting, as with correspondents staying in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge takeover in 1975—highlighting human rights and geopolitical issues.
Recent Era: Reflecting evolving social values, The Times launched projects like “Overlooked” in 2018 to cover notable people historically ignored by traditional obituaries, emphasizing diversity and social justice topics.
Beyond The New York Times, New York City coverage has also been preserved through photographic archives held by the NYC Department of Records, focusing on official municipal and fire department scenes dating mostly before 1956. These images provide sharp documentary views into city life and its officials in the early-mid 20th century.
Historical newspaper archives show that earlier eras of coverage, including the party press era in the late 18th to early 19th centuries, were strongly partisan and politically charged, focusing heavily on political news, speeches, and governmental documents.
Other media outlets, such as a magazine, have also chronicled New York City's transformation. The magazine, in its early days, showed readers parts of the world they might never visit, including the vibrant metropolis of New York City. In 1939, it provided a supplemental map called "The Reaches of New York City" for the first World's Fair hosted by the city.
The magazine published a story about Harlem by Frank Hercules in 1977 and countered the crime-ridden reputation of Central Park in stories published in 1960 and 1993. Many of its first stories about New York City focused on architecture, people, and culture.
Significant events in the city's history have also been covered extensively. In 1957, the magazine published an article about the Mayflower II's voyage, and New York City celebrated the arrival of Mayflower II with a ticker-tape parade. Decades later, Fresh Kills is being redeveloped into Freshkills Park, which promises to be three times the size of Central Park.
The editorial focus of the magazine shifted over time to cover environmental issues, the September 11 terrorist attacks, and the COVID-19 pandemic. In August 2020, it published photos of a markedly less bustling New York City amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pete Hamill, in a 2015 reflection, described his first time visiting the interior of One World Trade Center, noting that the Woolworth Building was still visible from the windows. The magazine also published photos that appealed to armchair travelers in "The Metropolis of Mankind" in July 1918, and in August 2020, it showcased the city's transformation with photos of a changed landscape.
One constant in the website's coverage of New York City is change, as reflected in a 2015 article called "New New York." The magazine addressed the growing problems posed by landfills in a 1991 story and highlighted state and federal efforts to clean the Hudson River in the 1978 article "Hudson: 'That River's Alive'." An early article highlighted New York City's draws, stating that it had more Irish and Italians than Dublin and Rome, respectively.
In summary, coverage of New York City has shifted from politically aligned and sensational early papers to a mature journalistic tradition in The New York Times, emphasizing thorough disaster and war reporting, political analysis, cultural inclusion, and social justice topics in successive eras. Photographic and archival collections complement this narrative by preserving visual governmental and civic history of NYC over the century.
[1] The New York Times: A History [2] The New York Times: A Social History [3] NYC Department of Records Photograph Collection [4] Party Press Era
- The Earth's ocean of change is beautifully captured through the lens of photography in the NYC Department of Records Photograph Collection, offering a glimpse into the city's governmental and civic history.
- The evolution of New York City's narrative isbest understood through the pages of The New York Times, a testament to the power of education and the significance of environmental issues shaping its coverage over the past century.
- The New York Times has been a pillar of society, mirroring the lifestyle and culture of the community, while also tackling pressing environmental issues that concern the planet.
- Travelers and armchair explorers have been inspired by the vivid storytelling of a magazine that once showcased the world, highlighting the metropolis of New York City, its history, and its transformation, from the Reaches of New York City in the 1930s to a changed landscape in August 2020.
- Home-and-garden enthusiasts will find solace in historical accounts of New York City's architectural history, as the magazine traced the city's development through stories about people, culture, and landmarks, giving readers a unique view into the ever-changing landscape.
- As journalists traverse the transformative journey of New York City, they delve into the history of environmental issues, from the growing problems posed by landfills and the cleaning of the Hudson River, to the pandemic that brought the city to a halt, showcasing the resilience and adaptability of both the city and its people.
