The New York Times is using one of its most prominent — and provocative — editorial projects to market itself to current and potential subscribers, starting with movie fans.
On Sunday, during the 92nd Academy Awards telecast on ABC, the Times will kick off a national ad campaign with a commercial highlighting The 1619 Project, its package of stories last August marking the 400th anniversary of the first documented enslaved Africans to reach the British colonies and retelling American history through the lens of slavery, race, and discrimination.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1imfEXKaeM&w=560&h=315]
The sweeping, deeply-reported project on how slavery has shaped America was one of the most-read pieces of journalism the Times produced in 2019. Originally conceived by Times reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones as a special issue of The New York Times Magazine, The 1619 Project has grown to include a special section in the paper, a live event series, curriculum materials, podcasts, books, and even a yet-to-be-launched merchandise…