Shareholders File Lawsuit Against The New York Times Over Alleged Bias

Shareholders of The New York Times, led by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, initiated a lawsuit on Wednesday, claiming the publication failed to present truthful reporting regarding Israel. Uthmeier highlighted that the Times demonstrated bias through “72 recent errors” acknowledged in its own correction column over just eight months, all attributed to pro-Hamas reporting that was later retracted as incorrect.

The lawsuit was filed in the New York County Supreme Court by the State Board of Administration of Florida, with Uthmeier acting as trustee, alongside the National Center for Public Policy Research. The suit reportedly seeks to compel the Times’ board of directors to provide internal documents that the company has not shared for four months, most of which are related to its coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Uthmeier elaborated on the shareholder petition against the Times, clarifying that the issue is not a challenge to any specific article or the editorial freedom of the newspaper. He emphasized that, while businesses have First Amendment rights, there are “corporate governance” responsibilities they must fulfill, especially as a publicly traded company.

Uthmeier expressed concerns about “dangerous trends” that raise questions about the newspaper’s credibility. He reiterated the issue of the alleged bias by referencing the “72 recent errors” the Times admitted to in a specific coverage area.

The Free Press noted a few striking examples of what it described as the Times’ anti-Israel bias. For instance, in a September 15 article, the Times referred to Sharif Labad, killed in a drone strike, merely as “a Civil Defense rescue service worker,” neglecting to mention that the Israel Defense Forces identified him as a Hamas Nukhba member involved in the October 7 incursion. That article remains unchanged.

On the same day, another article focusing on the Trump administration’s decision to send bombs to Israel contained a misleading caption that exaggerated the weight of the bombs from 2,000 to 40,000 pounds—an absurd misstatement. Additionally, an editor’s note was issued after a problematic line in a piece about a Gaza documentary suggested that Israelis mainly view themselves as victims of the October 7 attacks. The Times labeled that an “editing error” that inadvertently implied the deaths and hostage situations were only a matter of perception.

Given that the State Board of Administration manages a retirement fund for more than 1.2 million employees, Uthmeier stressed the necessity of ensuring their investments yield returns that promote growth. He pointed out that credibility is essential for a news organization, and the Times has claimed to its investors that its brand and reputation are its most valuable assets. The newspaper has also recognized that perceptions of biased journalism could materially affect those assets.

Uthmeier noted that as investors, they possess a legal right to access the corporate governance documents, which they have not received, prompting this formal legal petition. He expressed hope that the company would eventually comply with the request.

Additionally, Uthmeier mentioned that while biases or agendas can exist within a business, transparency regarding those positions is necessary when it comes to governance and informing shareholders.

In the lawsuit, there is a witness who is a former Times employee, Jewish, and has voiced concerns about antisemitism multiple times from 2019 to 2026. This whistleblower remarked that the public deserves a clearer understanding of how the Times handles news relating to Jews or Israel.

David Benger, representing the National Jewish Advocacy Center, spoke to the outlet, asserting that many readers perceive a long-standing anti-Jewish and anti-Israel bias in the Times, and shareholders have the right to know whether the board has been vigilant about this issue.