Bad Times for the Times

The New York Times -- the chief news source for thousands of journalists nationwide -- has hit a rough patch. Jayson Blair, Howell Raines, Judith Miller and now the incendiary flap over the John McCain story last week insinuating that the Senator had more than a professional relationship with a telecommunications lobbyist.

Executive Editor Bill Keller must feel besieged. On this one, he should. The timing of the story -- after McCain had all but clinched the Republican presidential nomination -- and the fact that sex was in the lead is not representative of the Times's best work. The overuse of anonymous sources did not help, either. The more important aspect of this story -- published by The Washington Post on February 22 -- is the potential quid pro quo between McCain and the lobbyist in terms of legislative favors. One realizes that this is business as usual on Capitol Hill, but for McCain, the anti-pork, anti-K St., pro-campaign finance reform maverick to have engaged in such behavior is the real revelation here.

Yet Keller need not despair. Rush Limbaugh would never sing the praises of the Times. Each week in the paper's pages Tom Friedman, Paul Krugman, David Brooks and Frank Rich inspire Americans to think about issues, and the overall reporting is still the gold standard. Sure, the Times has its troubles right now, but it is still the dream target for PR professionals. The influence of The New York Times cannot be overestimated. ; a piece in the Times spawns dozens of stories in other outlets.

The New York Times is still the paper of record, and always will be.