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The New York Times to Publish Special 9/11 Section on Fifth Anniversary of Terrorist Attacks; Appearing on September 11, 2006, ``Broken Ground'' Will Feature Story on Controversies Surrounding Rebuilding of Ground Zero

Business Wire, Sept 8, 2006

NEW YORK -- Updates to "Portraits of Grief" Will Also Be Published

The New York Times will publish a special stand-alone print news section called "Broken Ground" on Sept. 11, 2006, marking the fifth anniversary of 9/11 and the terrorist attacks on the United States. The section will feature a story by Times investigative reporter, Deborah Sontag, on the failure to rebuild Ground Zero, the site of the former World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, and reasons for the delay. NYTimes.com will feature the same section as well as additional stories and video at www.nytimes.com/sept11.> "We always try to look at big anniversaries not just as events that mark time but as opportunities to raise big questions," said Bill Keller, executive editor of The New York Times. "One of the biggest questions about 9/11 is why there remains a 16-acre hole in the heart of Manhattan. Debbie answers that question in a narrative so richly reported and so vividly told that it becomes the story of New York. We're tremendously proud of it."

Ms. Sontag's six-month-long investigation into the rebuilding effort at Ground Zero explores the many stakeholders involved and the years of delays, cost overruns and finger pointing that have allowed the site to remain a 16-acre, 70-foot-deep crater. Her story, which includes interviews with Governor George Pataki, John Whitehead, former chairman of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and Kenneth Ringler, Jr., executive director of the Port Authority, among many others, considers:

--Ground Zero's evolution from a horrific site that briefly united the city and the country to a "mosh pit" of competing interests in the world of Manhattan real estate and big money

--The controversy over Governor Pataki's handling of the rebuilding effort and the claims of many critics that he hasn't offered effective leadership

--The different views of Ground Zero - what it meant and what it should become - that various parties, including victims' family members, business leaders and government officials, brought to the table

--The record-breaking costs associated with each element of the rebuilding plan, which includes a skyscraper, a memorial and a new commuter rail station

NYTimes.com will offer three videos to accompany the section, including a guided tour of the current construction at Ground Zero; a story about the hangar at John F. Kennedy Airport where artifacts from 9/11 are stored; and an interview with several victims' family members about their activism following 9/11.

Additional 9/11 anniversary features on NYTimes.com include a video with Times reporter Anthony Depalma about the illnesses suffered by Ground Zero workers and residents of lower Manhattan and a Q. & A. with readers and an archive of The Times's front pages for the 10 days following 9/11, from Sept. 12 to Sept. 21, 2001. The original "Portraits of Grief" series, searchable by name, can be viewed at www.nytimes.com/portraits.> Also on Sept. 11, The Times will run two pages of updates to the paper's "Portraits of Grief," the daily series of brief features, written by more than 140 reporters, about more than 2,000 of the people who died in the attack on the Twin Towers. The Times revisits the families of 30 of the victims, chosen at random, and provides glimpses into their lives today and how they've dealt with their tragic losses since 9/11. An audio component with some of the interviews will be featured on NYTimes.com.

About The New York Times Company

The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), a leading media company with 2005 revenues of $3.4 billion, includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 15 other daily newspapers, nine network-affiliated television stations, two New York City radio stations and 35 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com. The Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.

This press release can be downloaded from www.nytco.com and www.nytimes-community.com