John Oakes
In conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the Op-Ed page, The New York Times has launched a redesigned Opinion section online, now called the Opinion Pages, which features video interviews with past contributors, leading up to a special 18-page stand alone section in Sunday’s print edition.
``The launch of The New York Times Op-Ed page in 1970 represented a promise to our readers: a place to illuminate the debate on issues of interest and importance to them, by bringing ideas and opinions from outside our walls and placing them across from our editorial page,” Andrew Rosenthal, editorial page editor of The New York Times wrote through a press release. ``Forty years later, The Times has not only kept the promise but has expanded on it online and in the paper. Our redesigned Opinion section online has an exciting new look, but more important, makes it easier for our readers to absorb and engage with outstanding opinion journalism, and to give them many more reasons to spend more time with us throughout the day.”
The redesigned opinion page features a left navigation bar, which allows users to select content by category (Columnists, Editorials, Op-Ed, Opinionator, Letters, Topics and Room for Debate) and by subcategory, making content easier to find. Other new features include: videos, Op-Art and blog posts.
Sunday’s special section, among other highlights, takes a look back at some of its most celebrated and hotly debated essays from past presidents and foreign leaders, Nobel Laureates and Pulitzer Prize winners.
In addition, specific themes with excerpts from the original op-ed pieces include: The Presidency, The Age of Terrorism, New York, Money, Science, Equality/Inequality, Literature, and more.
The op-ed page, meaning opposite the editorial page, was the brainchild of John B. Oakes, The New York Times editorial director from 1961 to 1976. Oakes was the nephew of Adolph Ochs, the former owner and publisher of The New York Times.
The page which sought unsolicited writing contributions for the first time was launched on September 21, 1970, and included outside writing contributions from W.W. Rostow, Han Suyin, and Gerald Johnson.
--Bill Lucey
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