The New York Times International Edition

The New York Times International Edition is the New York Times Company’s international English-language newspaper product. It is distributed outside the United States in print and is supported by the broader New York Times digital publishing operation. The edition is intended for readers who want international reporting, U.S. national news, business, politics, culture, science, ideas and lifestyle coverage from the perspective and editorial resources of The New York Times. The brand has two distinct historical periods. Its first international-edition lineage began during the Second World War. In 1943, publisher Arthur Hays Sulzberger conceived an overseas edition after visiting Tehran and observing the isolation of Allied personnel serving along the Persian Corridor. The initial Overseas Weekly was a condensed publication designed to inform troops and explain the wider context of the war. It was printed in multiple locations during the conflict and later continued in more limited form in Frankfurt and Tokyo. The product evolved into a United Nations Edition during the 1948 United Nations General Assembly session in Paris and then into the International Air Edition in December 1948. Initially printed in the United States and flown to Europe, production was later localized through the shipment of printing materials, first to Paris and subsequently to Amsterdam. In 1960, improvements in teletypesetting enabled more closely synchronized production in New York and Europe, and the title became known as the International Edition of The New York Times. Editorial control was increasingly transferred to Paris, where the international operation developed its own reporting and production capacity. Despite promotional investment and a significant international readership, the first incarnation faced strong competition from the European edition of the New York Herald Tribune. Limited advertising and continuing operating losses led The New York Times to discontinue the edition. Its final issue appeared on May 20, 1967. The company instead joined The Washington Post and Whitney Communications in publishing the International Herald Tribune, a Paris-based successor publication that retained a distinct brand identity for decades. The New York Times Company later became the sole owner of the International Herald Tribune after acquiring The Washington Post Company’s stake in 2002. A second incarnation began with the rebranding of the International Herald Tribune. In 2013, the newspaper was renamed The International New York Times, and the International Herald Tribune name disappeared from newsstands after its final issue on October 14 of that year. In October 2016, the product adopted its current name, The New York Times International Edition. That same period saw the closure of the Paris newsroom that had served as the international edition’s editorial and preproduction headquarters, although the company retained a Paris news bureau and advertising presence. The modern edition operates as part of a global publishing system rather than as a fully independent newspaper organization. Its international print edition complements The New York Times’ website, apps, newsletters, audio, video and other digital products. The company also publishes The New York Times International Weekly, a 16-page weekly selection intended for host newspapers and other international partners. The weekly product packages selected Times journalism on subjects such as politics, business, science, ideas, culture and lifestyles, while allowing local publishers to sell advertising and sponsorship around the section. The International Edition’s positioning combines the authority of the New York Times name with a global readership proposition. Its principal differentiation is access to the newspaper’s international reporting network and distinctive editorial franchises, rather than a separate mass-market local-news model. The print product remains an internationally recogni…

The international history of The New York Times began in wartime circumstances. In June 1943, publisher Arthur Hays Sulzberger visited Tehran and met Brigadier General Donald H. Connolly, whose command supported the movement of Allied supplies to the Soviet Union through the Persian Corridor. Concerned about the isolation and low morale of personnel stationed there, Sulzberger authorized an edition intended to keep them informed about both the war and the significance of their duties. The resulting eight-page Overseas Weekly, dated August 22, 1943, reached Tehran in September and proved sufficiently popular to expand to more than twenty printing locations during the war. After the war, the Overseas Weekly was reduced to editions for American occupation forces in Frankfurt and Tokyo. The next major development came during the third session of the United Nations General Assembly, held in Paris in late 1948. The Times produced a United Nations Edition that was flown to the meeting. Its reception encouraged the company to begin the International Air Edition on December 11, 1948. This version concentrated on U.S. national and international news and generally excluded New York-specific news and sports. At first, complete copies were printed in the United States and transported by air. From June 1949, printing was moved to Paris through the shipment of production materials, reducing the logistical burden. The Overseas Weekly ended that month and was incorporated into the Sunday international product. Production shifted from Paris to Amsterdam in 1952 as the company sought lower transportation costs. In 1960, teletypesetting made simultaneous printing in New York and Europe more practical, and the product returned to Paris under the name International Edition of The New York Times. The Times invested heavily in promotion to compete with the established European edition of the New York Herald Tribune. The international operation gained some circulation, but it remained commercially weaker, with less advertising and continuing losses. Editorial control moved to Paris in 1964, and the Paris office developed some independent reporting capability. The first incarnation ended on May 20, 1967. The Times had determined that the operation was not financially competitive, and more than one hundred employees were laid off. Rather than abandon its international presence, the company joined The Washington Post and Whitney Communications in publishing the International Herald Tribune in Paris. The New York Times and The Washington Post later became equal shareholders, and in December 2002 The New York Times Company bought the Washington Post Company’s half, leaving the Times company as sole owner. The modern incarnation emerged from a further brand strategy. In 2013, the International Herald Tribune was renamed The International New York Times; its final issue under the Herald Tribune name appeared on October 14. In October 2016, the newspaper became The New York Times International Edition. During the same period, the Paris newsroom that had served as the international edition’s editorial and preproduction center was closed, although the company retained a Paris news bureau and advertising office. Alongside the daily print edition, the company publishes The New York Times International Weekly. The weekly is a 16-page compilation designed for local newspaper partners. It presents selected Times journalism across global affairs, business, science, ideas, culture and lifestyle, and provides partner publications with advertising and sponsorship inventory. In the digital era, the international edition is closely connected to the wider New York Times ecosystem, including the company’s website and subscription products. Its continuing role is therefore both a physical newspaper distributed internationally and a recognizable global expression of the broader New York Times editorial brand.

1. 2016Current name is adopted

   The International New York Times is renamed The New York Times International Edition.

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2. 2013International Herald Tribune becomes The International New York Times

   The international newspaper is brought closer to the New York Times brand.

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3. 2002The New York Times Company becomes sole owner of the International Herald Tribune

   The company acquires The Washington Post Company’s 50 percent stake.

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4. 1967First incarnation closes

   The original international edition publishes its last issue on May 20.

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5. 1960International Edition production returns to Paris

   Teletypesetting enables coordinated New York and European production, and the product receives the International Edition name.

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6. 1948United Nations Edition and International Air Edition

   A special United Nations publication is followed by a daily international edition for European readers.

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7. 1943Overseas Weekly is launched

   The Times begins an overseas edition for Allied personnel during the Second World War.

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High-quality international journalism for English-language readers worldwide, combining The New York Times’ reporting, analysis and editorial franchises with international print distribution.

• The New York Times International EditionInternational daily newspaper1943

  The principal international print edition of The New York Times. It presents the company’s reporting and editorial coverage for readers outside the United States, with emphasis on international affairs, U.S. national news, business, politics, culture, science, ideas and lifestyle. The product has existed under several historical names and formats, including the Overseas Weekly, International Air Edition, International Edition of The New York Times and The International New York Times.

• The New York Times International WeeklyWeekly newspaper supplement

  A 16-page weekly selection of New York Times journalism distributed through international host newspapers and partners. It is designed to complement local reporting with globally relevant coverage of politics, business, science, ideas, culture and lifestyles. Partner publications can use the section’s advertising and sponsorship capacity as part of their commercial offering.

• 2016Adopt the New York Times International Edition nameGeneration change

  The International New York Times was being integrated more closely into the company’s global newspaper and digital brand architecture.

  What changed. The company renamed the newspaper The New York Times International Edition and closed the Paris newsroom that had served as its editorial and preproduction headquarters.

  Aftermath. A Paris news bureau and advertising office remained, while the international product became more closely associated with the wider New York Times publishing system.

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• 2013Rename the International Herald TribuneGeneration change

  The company sought a closer relationship between its international newspaper and the New York Times master brand.

  What changed. The International Herald Tribune was renamed The International New York Times, with the final Herald Tribune issue appearing on October 14.

  Aftermath. The international newspaper continued under a more directly affiliated New York Times identity until adopting its current name in 2016.

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• 2002Acquire the remaining International Herald Tribune ownership stakeM&A

  The New York Times Company and The Washington Post Company had been equal shareholders in the International Herald Tribune.

  What changed. The New York Times Company purchased The Washington Post Company’s 50 percent interest.

  Aftermath. The International Herald Tribune became wholly owned by The New York Times Company until its later rebranding.

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• 1967End the first International Edition and pursue a publishing partnershipStrategy

  The original international edition had persistent losses, weak advertising performance and strong competition from the European edition of the New York Herald Tribune.

  What changed. The New York Times discontinued its standalone international edition and joined The Washington Post and Whitney Communications in publishing the International Herald Tribune.

  Aftermath. The Times maintained an international newspaper presence through the Paris-based joint publication, whose ownership later became wholly controlled by The New York Times Company.

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• 2016The International New York Times adopts its current name

  The international newspaper was renamed The New York Times International Edition in October 2016. The Paris editorial headquarters was also closed during this period, while a bureau and advertising operation remained.

  Product generation
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• 2013The International Herald Tribune is renamed The International New York Times

  The New York Times Company announced a new name for the international newspaper as part of a closer connection with the New York Times brand.

  Product generation
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• 2002The New York Times Company acquires The Washington Post’s International Herald Tribune stake

  The New York Times Company purchased The Washington Post Company’s 50 percent interest, making the Times company the sole owner of the international newspaper.

  M&A
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• 1967The first International Edition ends publication

  The original International Edition ended after persistent losses, limited advertising and competition from the European edition of the New York Herald Tribune.

  Other
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• 1967The New York Times becomes a joint publisher of the International Herald Tribune

  Following the closure of its first international edition, The New York Times joined The Washington Post and Whitney Communications in publishing the Paris-based International Herald Tribune.

  M&A
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• 1948The International Air Edition is introduced

  After producing a United Nations Edition for the Paris General Assembly session, The New York Times launched a daily International Air Edition for European readers.

  Product launch
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• 1943The New York Times begins publishing the International Edition lineage through the Overseas Weekly

  The Times introduced an overseas tabloid edition during the Second World War to provide news and context to Allied personnel serving away from major combat fronts.

  Product launch
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1. The New York Times International Edition
2. The New York Times official website