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What publishers can learn from NYT’s ‘solar system’ model – with global ads VP Tom Armstrong

What publishers can learn from NYT’s ‘solar system’ model – with global ads VP Tom Armstrong
The Media Leader Podcast | Cannes 2026 | Publishing Week in Focus

The New York Times (NYT) is something of a rarity in contemporary news publishing: a legacy giant that is seeing double-digit revenue growth and consistent increases in readership.

It’s no surprise, then, that many commercial leaders at other publishers here in the UK have pointed to the ‘Gray Lady’ as having developed a model they want to emulate.

To kick off our publishing week in focus here at The Media Leader, it was a pleasure then to sit down with Tom Armstrong, NYT’s VP of global advertising.

Host Jack Benjamin spoke with Armstrong in sunny Cannes about how NYT’s “solar system” strategy of surrounding its reporting with verticals like cooking and games has driven commercial opportunity, the publisher’s strategy for international expansion, and how NYT is embracing multimedia journalism.

Listen now by hitting the play button or use the appropriate entry point into Spotify, Apple or Google Podcasts:

Thanks to our production partners, Trisonic, for editing this episode. Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audience.


Highlights

1:19: What’s driving NYT‘s growth: Portfolio transformation, subscription-first strategy

4:59: Is NYT not just a news company anymore?

6:52: International growth strategy

8:23: Why it’s important for publishers to be sought out by name in the new era of AI search

12:07: Pivoting to video (again) – opportunities and pitfalls

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