NYTimes was never about investigative journalism. NYTimes's value comes from the fact that it's the 'paper of record'. It's the paper that 'the state' uses to c

NYTimes was never about investigative journalism. NYTimes's value comes from the fact that it's the 'paper of record'. It's the paper that 'the state' uses to communicate to the public. Others investigate and if the times find it important, the times will run with it and bring about change. NYTimes value is that important people use it and read it. For example, if wired or other magazines/newspapers publish reports about the need to censor social media. Nobody cares. If the NYTimes picks it up, then you will see action from DoJ, etc. It's the state power behind the NYTimes which makes it the paper of record.