PressEthic

The N.Y. Observer put a snarky lead on a story about the NYT's new guidelines on straight news, opinion journalism and all points in between.

The New York Times has a rule about presenting opinions in its news columns: Henceforth, they must all conform to the left. As of Sept. 20—this morning, if you’re reading a brand-new copy of The Observer—The Times has instituted a sweeping but subtle redesign, to emphasize the difference between objective and subjective journalism. Straight news will remain, well, straight: laid out in justified columns, with even margins on the left and right. Stories that have been colored by analysis, commentary or authorial whimsy will all receive the layout previously reserved for columns: a straight left margin and a ragged right one.

The piece doesn't specify how the Web site will treat its stories. I'd be curious to know.