New York Times' Baquet on Tech Strategy: Do as I Say, Not as I Do

It was a showdown between executive editor and executive editor at An Evening with Code/Media at Steelcase WorkLife Center in New York, as Re/code’s Kara Swisher challenged the New York Times’ Dean Baquet about his social media use, or lack thereof.

Swisher: Do you use Twitter?

Baquet: No — maybe twice.

Swisher: Facebook?

Baquet: I’m active on Facebook.

Swisher: Snapchat?

Baquet: No.

Swisher: Periscope?

Baquet: No.

Swisher: Vine?

Baquet: No.

Swisher: Meerkat?

Baquet: No.

Swisher: Do you write long letters with feathered pens?

Baquet: I have an electric typewriter.

Swisher: I ask because the sense is that today if you’re leading a newspaper into the future, you have to understand social media, and to understand it, you have to use it. Don’t you think that’s true?

Baquet: I don’t think that’s true. The job of a modern news editor is to lead a newsroom in coverage, and leadership is the most important asset. The most important thing I can do every day is to come in and talk to reporters and editors, and to be perfectly frank, anything that I do other than that is secondary.

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

Explanatory journalism is a public good

At Vox, we believe that everyone deserves access to information that helps them understand and shape the world they live in. That's why we keep our work free. Support our mission and help keep Vox free for all by making a financial contribution to Vox today.

One-Time Monthly Annual

$95/year

$120/year

$250/year

$350/year

Other

$

Yes, I'll give $120/year

Yes, I'll give $120/year

We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. You can also contribute via