But they write software for NYTimes, they don't write journalism. Additionally NYTimes benefits from huge networks effects – both in that they are a comprehens

But they write software for NYTimes, they don't write journalism. Additionally NYTimes benefits from huge networks effects – both in that they are a comprehensive source of (reasonably) reliable journalism which attracts lots of readers but also that they know lots of sources. It also helps that it's one of the better newspapers around (probably second to the FT).