The New York Times is making significant changes to its roster of arts and entertainment critics, with four critics being offered new roles within the organization. This decision was communicated through an internal memo obtained by Variety.
The quartet of critics being affected includes television critic Margaret Lyons, music critic Jon Pareles, theater critic Jesse Green, and classical music critic Zach Woolfe. These critics will be transitioning to new roles, and the Times will be conducting a search for new critics to cover their respective beats in the coming weeks, as stated in the memo by New York Times culture editor Sia Michel.
Michel highlighted the evolving landscape of American culture, noting the impact of new generations of artists, changing audience behaviors, and the challenges faced by arts institutions. She emphasized the importance of providing readers with trusted guides to navigate this complex cultural environment through various forms of content, including traditional reviews, essays, videos, and experimentation with different platforms.
Michel’s memo also acknowledged the exceptional contributions of the four departing critics, praising their outstanding body of work. Jon Pareles, the chief pop critic at the Times since 1988, was recognized for his unparalleled influence on pop music criticism across a wide range of genres. Margaret Lyons, who has been the TV critic since 2016, was commended for her ability to curate television and streaming content for readers.
Jesse Green, the theater critic since 2017, was lauded for championing important theater productions with his incisive and witty reviews. Zach Woolfe, who joined the Times in 2011 and became the classical music critic in 2022, was acknowledged for his innovative approach to music criticism, including the popular “5 Minutes” format.
While acknowledging that these changes may be significant, Michel emphasized the importance of bringing different perspectives to core disciplines within the organization. She noted that while it is common practice to rotate roles in other areas of the newsroom, this practice has been less common among critics. However, she believes that diversifying perspectives is essential for expanding coverage beyond traditional reviews.
Overall, these changes reflect the Times’ commitment to evolving with the dynamic cultural landscape and providing readers with insightful and diverse perspectives on arts and entertainment.
