New York Times kicks off ‘expanded’ local coverage in Australia

Three months after appointing Damien Cave as Australian bureau chief, The New York Times has officially kicked off its expanded coverage of Australia.

As part of the official expansion, local readers have unlimited access to the NYT through to May 8.

Local coverage will be rolling out over the coming months with a focus on global issues “that deeply affect Australia and the region” including: climate change, migration, gender and international politics and economics.

There will be mix of in-depth reporting, investigations, opinion, news, and cultural coverage, delivered digitally in a variety of formats.

Cave said in a statement: “We are thrilled to offer a more robust New York Times news report tailored to Australian readers. Australians have told us they’re eager for more of our deep and thoughtful reporting, especially on climate change, migration, and international politics, and this only the beginning. We will continue to broaden the scope of our coverage.”

Cave was appointed as Australian Bureau Chief at the end of January.

In a piece introducing himself and his plans for the local coverage, Cave said the primary goal was to bring Australia more the high-quality coverage readers expect from Times reporters and photographers.

“We’re putting together a talented team here that will dig deep and wide. But as we build momentum and deliver more distinctive coverage — like this article on the Great Barrier Reef, or this feature on New Zealand courting global techies — we want you, our audience, to help shape the journey,” he said.

He is currently recruiting a team of journalists and contributors from all over Australia and New Zealand.

Times reporters  Jane Perlez, Justin Gillis and Sam Sifton, along with Roger Cohen, an op-ed columnist, will be among the journalists contributing coverage and perspectives of the region.

Gold Logie winner Waleed Aly to write for New York Times

Other op-ed columnists include Julia Baird, who also writes for the Sydney Morning Herald and co-hosts The Drum on the ABC; Lisa Pryor, author of The Pin Striped Prison and A Small Book About Drugs; and, Waleed Aly, co-host of Ten’s The Project and a columnist for Fairfax Media.

The NYT is also collaborating with the ABC on on a documentary featuring Times national correspondent John Eligon, who covers issues of race.

The one hour film on ABC’s Foreign Correspondent focuses on indigenous Australians and their battle for autonomy and equality in urban, rural and coastal Australia. The program will air on June 27 at 8:30pm on ABC TV and iview while The New York Times will publish its digital feature on the same day.

As part of its Australian expansion, the NYT is planning to introduce a series of events to “bring to life some of its most compelling subjects and stories featuring Times journalists”.

The events side of the business kicks off this week with events in Sydney and Melbourne featuring food editor Sam Sifton in coversation with chefs Ben Shewry of Attica and Matt Moran of Aria.

The events are tied to an upcoming special food section on Australian cuisine that will include articles by Sifton and reviews by New York Times chief food critic Pete Wells.

For readers wanting to engage with the NYT Australia coverage, they can sign up to a free weekday email newsletter Morning Briefing: Australia Edition and NYT Australia, a free weekly newsletter that features a roundup of global news, plus commentary and local recommendations from Times journalists.

Subscribers interested in thought-provoking discussion about Australian issues and journalism from The Times can also join the new NYT Australia Facebook group.

On the Facebook page, Cave said the team will be sharing their own work, delivering special features and answering questions from the community.

“We’ll also be delivering special features there that we hope will stir up enlightening conversation. One example: something I’m calling the NYT Oz Culture Club, in which we pick a book or other art form, digest it together, then discuss it with someone who can provide special insight,” he said.