Shareholders Sue New York Times Over Israel Coverage

Shareholders in The New York Times Company have filed a lawsuit against the newspaper's management, demanding access to internal documents related to its coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. The lawsuit, filed in the New York State Supreme Court, alleges bias against Israel and antisemitism within the newsroom. The plaintiffs, including the State Board of Administration of Florida and the National Center for Public Policy Research, claim the company has refused to provide these materials for approximately four months.

The shareholders seek to compel the company's board of directors to hand over internal documents, primarily concerning the war's reporting. Their stated goal is to examine whether the company adheres to its own editorial standards, including accuracy and error correction. Reuters also reported that the Florida pension fund is seeking to inspect the company's books and records to verify its compliance with these standards.

The lawsuit incorporates testimony from a former Jewish employee of The New York Times, who reportedly worked for nearly a decade in the video department. According to the filing, this employee raised concerns about antisemitism and anti-Israel bias at least 15 times between 2019 and her departure in March 2026, approaching her managers, standards officials, and human resources. These allegations have not yet been ruled upon by the court.

This legal action is not seeking damages for the coverage itself. The primary relief requested at this stage is the acquisition of internal documents and records, which the shareholders believe will allow them to assess the company's conduct and oversight of its editorial operations.