Can Journalism Survive AI? — with NYT CEO Meredith Kopit Levien

Meredith Kopit Levien, CEO of the New York Times, joins Scott Galloway to discuss the company's operational strategy, growth drivers, AI's role in journalism, and the broader media landscape. With 13 million subscribers and revenues nearing $3 billion, the Times stands out against struggling peers like the Washington Post, which has cut a third of its staff.

Sustained Investment in Journalism and Subscriptions

Levien attributes the Times' results to deliberate, long-term investments in original independent journalism, building the largest newsroom in its history at 2,300 core staff and 3,000 total journalists and content creators across news, The Athletic, Wirecutter, cooking, and games. This supports coverage from geopolitical events to personal lifestyle topics. The strategy—positioning the Times as the essential subscription for curious people worldwide—has been consistent for over a decade, aided by tech and format innovations for accessibility. Subscriptions drive 75% of revenue, roughly $200-250 million monthly, with low churn tied to high-value, human-driven content. Public investors demand growth, but Levien sees the best days ahead after 175 years, emphasizing patience in executing this model.