New York Times publisher speaks at MSU

A.G. Sulzberger, publisher and chairman of the New York Times, spoke at Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre, September 29, 2026, for an event that helped to mark 175 years of the Gray Old Lady.

The event extends into today (Sept. 30) with an outdoor pop-up photojournalism exhibit, “Bearing Witness,” presented by the Times from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Benefactors Plaza.

During his event Tuesday, Sulzberger said:

“President Donald Trump, who has sued us three times, used multiple government agencies to target our business, expelled journalists from the Pentagon and now the White House, and insulted us more times than anyone can count.  I told him a free press is an essential part of our national fabric and that our journalists will not be deterred by his attacks.  And they have not been.”

“I often tell my colleagues that the main thing we’ve won over the last decade of transformation and growth is the right to compete for the next decade.We must remain oriented to the future, awake to both its opportunities and risks.  We must remember that though we may be a success story in our industry, our industry is systematically failing.  We are a fraction of the size of tech giants that dominate the flow of information and attention.  Google makes more profit every day than the “Times” does in an entire year.”

“When you build, build something of value.  When you face hard choices, face them with considered values. And when you lead, lead in the spirit of stewardship. Your investments may take a while to pay off, but when they do, your reward will be the highest of professional achievements.  Being part of something worthy and enduring.”