New York Times Rethinks Education Coverage

About 2½ years ago, The New York Times disbanded its education desk.  In 2007 and 2008 at its peak, nine reporters and two editors worked that beat.  But the Times was not alone.  The recession hit hard.

KYW's Dr. Marciene Mattleman reports in December of this year, the Brookings Institution found that articles about education made up only one percent of national news over the past few years.  Acknowledging the importance of education, many newspapers including The Washington Post, the Times and USA Today started blogs.

For the same reasons, CNN cut its entire staff for science, technology and the environment in 2008, planning to incorporate news in those areas in general reporting.  Scientists became alarmed, pointing out that people who read about science are more likely to form more educated opinions on topics such as global warming and stem cell research.

According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, the Hechinger Report was founded to provide in depth coverage of national education issues and several foundations have committed to fund print, broadcast and online news outlets so that the public will be informed about education.  And, fortunately, The New York Times is rethinking its decision.