New York Times website overhaul includes ‘content paid for by advertisers’

“Such content, known as “native advertising,” has raised concerns among some journalists that it could blur the lines between the editorial product and material provided by advertisers,” the paper reported on its own site today.

“In a letter to employees last month, however, The Times’s publisher, Arthur Sulzberger Jr., promised that native ads would be clearly distinguished as paid posts and that the content would not be produced by newsroom employees,” it added.

The news brand said that the new site would allow for better integration of video and photography with text.

“The redesign includes features like responsive designs and faster-loading pages, and allows for much more reader engagement with the content,” said Denise Warren, the executive vice president for digital products and services for The Times in a statement.

“Readers will be able to view comments directly alongside articles.”

Jill Abramson, the executive editor added: “With more prominent video and photography, the new features are highly immersive and enhance our readers’ ability to share and comment throughout articles.”

A group of test readers have been given access to the new design today as part of its rollout.