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Florida pension fund sues Times over editorial standards oversight

State officials and a conservative think tank seek corporate records alleging bias against Israel.

newest coverage 9h agosummary written 4h ago4 pieces MastodonNewswiresGoogle News

What to know

  • Florida's pension fund and a conservative think tank sued the Times Wednesday as shareholders, seeking corporate records on how the board oversees editorial standards, alleging bias against Israel and factual errors.
  • The Times rejected the inspection demand and called the lawsuit meritless agenda-driven pressure to chill First Amendment–protected journalism; Florida officials cited the company's own risk disclosures to investors.
  • The petition relies partly on claims from an unnamed former employee who says she complained about anti-Israel bias culture starting in 2019, allegations the Times allegedly dismissed.
  • The case reflects a broader nationwide tension over journalistic independence, occurring alongside Trump's ban on certain outlets from the White House.

“Thanks to the bold leadership of Attorney General Uthmeier, Florida's public servants can rest assured that the FRS will remain sound and fiscally responsible.”

Steadman Stahl, South Florida Police Benevolent Association President · The Capitolist ↗

State Board of Administration of Florida (SBA) Plaintiff pension fund managerNational Center for Public Policy Research Co-plaintiff conservative think tankNew York Times Company Defendant media organizationJames UthmeierJames Uthmeier Florida Attorney GeneralA.G. SulzbergerA.G. Sulzberger Times publisher and board chair

Florida pension fund sues Times over editorial standards oversight
Investing.com News

How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

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  1. 3

    Florida Attorney General cites company's own risk disclosures

    Attorney General James Uthmeier argued that the Times itself has told investors that perceptions of unreliable or biased journalism are material risks to the company's brand and reputation, making the board's oversight practices a legitimate shareholder concern.

    “The Company itself tells investors that a perception of unreliable or biased journalism is a material risk to its most valuable asset. We asked a straightforward question: does the Board oversee compliance with the Company's own published standards? The Company refused to produce a single page.”
    — James Uthmeier
    1. 2 outlets Florida Files Petition Seeking New York Times Corporate Records

      first by The Capitolist, 12h ago · also The New York Times

      1 more headline
  2. 1

    Times calls lawsuit meritless attempt to pressure outlet

    Times spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander rejected the petition as an agenda-driven effort to exert pressure against an independent media organization and chill First Amendment-protected journalism.

    “Although it is positioned as a corporate governance petition to inspect the company's books and records, it is a transparent attempt to exert agenda-driven pressure against an independent media organization, level false allegations of bias and chill journalism protected by the First Amendment.”
    — Charlie Stadtlander
  3. 2

    Florida files shareholder petition in New York court

    The State Board of Administration and National Center for Public Policy Research filed a petition in New York County Supreme Court seeking corporate records to determine whether the Times board oversees compliance with editorial standards. The petition cites alleged factual errors in reporting and claims from an unnamed former employee about anti-Israel bias dating to 2019.

    “a series of factual errors in Times reporting on various subjects supports a reasonable inference that the board has allowed journalistic standards to be "weaponized within the company to serve the personal agendas of unchecked editors."”
    — State Board of Administration petition
    1. 1 outlet Florida fund sues New York Times for records concerning editorial standards

      first by Investing.com News, 13h ago

  4. background

    Times refuses narrowed inspection request — After the Times rejected the initial demand, the SBA narrowed its request to board-level materials including committee charters and records on editorial compliance. Times counsel refused to produce responsive documents during a September 1 conference.

  5. background

    SBA submits inspection demand to Times — Florida's State Board of Administration initially submitted an inspection demand seeking corporate records related to editorial standards oversight.

  6. background

    Times publisher commits to antisemitism training update — A.G. Sulzberger, Times publisher and board chair, commits to updating the company's unconscious bias training to include direct focus on antisemitism.