The New York Times is gearing up to launch a major new interview franchise, set to debut in 2024. This new venture will be a game-changer in the world of journalism, as it will live across the publication’s audio podcast division and within The New York Times Magazine.
Co-hosted by David Marchese, the writer behind the Magazine’s “Talk” interview column, and Lulu Garcia-Navarro, a seasoned NPR journalist who joined The Times to host its “First Person” interview series, this new interview series will be released as a weekly podcast and published as a Q&A in the Magazine.
The decision to launch this new franchise stems from the success of David’s Talk column, which has been one of the most popular features on The Times’ site over the past five years. In his column, Marchese has conducted over 130 interviews, with many of them making headlines and setting the news agenda. His recent interview with Jann Wenner, the Rolling Stone founder, garnered global attention when Wenner made controversial comments about Black and female musicians.
Similarly, Lulu Garcia-Navarro, who joined The Times in 2021, brings a wealth of experience from her time at NPR, having hosted “Weekend Edition” and “First Person.” Her skill in conducting interviews and drawing out compelling narratives from her subjects will make her a valuable addition to the new franchise.
In a note to staff, The Times’ audio chief Sam Dolnick, Magazine editor Jake Silverstein, and director of audio Paula Szchuman expressed their excitement about the creation of this new weekly interview franchise. They highlighted the importance of rich interviews with fascinating and important public figures, emphasizing that these interviews help the audience gain a sharper understanding of the people shaping the world.
The landscape of interview podcasts has witnessed significant growth in recent years, with streaming services like Spotify and SiriusXM investing substantial amounts of money in interview-driven shows. The success of interview programs has largely been attributed to celebrity interviewers and journalists who ask engaging or probing questions.
The new venture at The Times marks an important milestone, as it brings together two master interviewers to provide readers and listeners with intimate, in-depth conversations with notable individuals from all realms of public life. The decision to publish this new franchise as a podcast and as a text Q&A demonstrates The Times’ commitment to reaching audiences through various mediums.
This new franchise has been conceived and developed as a partnership between the Magazine and the Audio team. It will be overseen by Allison Benedikt, formerly the editorial director at Opinion, who joined The Times from Slate last year. The team will continue to build in the coming months, with individuals like audio editor Anabel Bacon and producer Wyatt Orme set to be part of this exciting new venture.
As the anticipation builds for the launch of The New York Times’ groundbreaking interview franchise, it is clear that this initiative will further solidify the publication’s position as a leader in providing insightful and thought-provoking content to its audience. With a team of experienced interviewers at the helm, this new venture is poised to deliver captivating interviews that engage with public figures in their own words, providing a deeper understanding of the world we live in.
