The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

Episode: Can Journalism Survive AI? — with NYT CEO Meredith Kopit Levien
Date: March 19, 2026
Host: Scott Galloway (Vox Media Podcast Network)
Guest: Meredith Kopit Levien, CEO of the New York Times

Episode Overview

In this episode, Scott Galloway sits down with New York Times CEO Meredith Kopit Levien to discuss the urgent questions facing journalism in the age of artificial intelligence. The conversation centers on the sustainability of high-quality, independent reporting, the Times’ business strategy amidst industry upheaval and consolidation, the challenge and opportunity of AI, and personal reflections on parenting in the digital era. Meredith provides candid insight into the decisions and values shaping the Times’ present and future.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The State of Legacy Media, the Times’ Success, and Industry Turbulence

[03:36 – 06:58]

• Scott contrasts the recent successes of the NYT (13 million subscribers, nearly $3B in revenue) with turmoil at the Washington Post and the broader struggles of legacy media.

• Meredith attributes the Times’ resilience and growth to "sustained and deliberate investment in original, independent journalism," emphasizing the company's commitment to both breadth and civic consequence of reporting.

• The Times boasts the largest newsroom in its history (2,300 core newsroom staff; 3,000 total content creators), illustrating the scale of its commitment.

  Quote:
  “We have made a sustained and very deliberate investment over a very long period of time in original independent journalism … that's where the value is most derived.” — Meredith Kopit Levien [05:07]

2. Pathways to Growth at the Times

[06:58 – 08:05]

• Meredith is bullish on future growth, citing expansion opportunities in news, lifestyle products, sports, games, and especially video formats in 2026.

• The Times is focused on making itself not just a newspaper but a multimedia brand, noting ambitions for “making the Times as preferred a brand for watching the news … as it is for reading and listening to it.”

  Quote:
  “We see growth in news … in our lifestyle products, domestically and internationally ... particularly this year, video.” — Meredith Kopit Levien [07:09]

3. AI: Lawsuits, Licensing, and the Business Model

[08:05 – 11:36]

• Scott asks about the Times’ twin strategy: suing AI companies for unauthorized content use while also partnering with Amazon.

• Meredith says enforcing copyright is about protecting the Times’ intellectual property and, more broadly, fighting for sustainable journalism models. Partnerships are crafted where “we have control over how our work is used.”

• Meredith also stresses that AI companies must pay for “high-quality information” to train their models.

  Quote:
  “We have a long track record of forging partnerships ... where we have control over how our work is used and where it comports with our strategy.” — Meredith Kopit Levien [09:14]

4. Can Media Companies Cooperate to Stand Up to Big Tech?

[09:59 – 14:38]

• Scott provocatively suggests that media companies often fail to cooperate, making them “the perfect enemy” for tech giants.

• Meredith pushes back, highlighting collaboration among news organizations on critical issues (e.g., extracting journalists from Afghanistan) and maintaining that each company’s control over its IP remains essential.

  Quote:
  “I do think every company’s intellectual property rights really matter. And companies should be in a position to control how their content is used.” — Meredith Kopit Levien [13:17]

5. Media Consolidation & Power

[14:38 – 17:21]

• Scott asks if Meredith is concerned about massive consolidation (listing dozens of brands soon to be under the Ellison family).
• Meredith expresses general support for vibrant, competitive markets for creative work but says her “focus is on hiring journalists and making our products better.”

6. AI’s Impact on Newsroom Staffing & Editorial Process

[20:58 – 24:58]

• Scott shares that while generative AI is not creative enough to author books, it’s useful for editing and fact checking.

• Meredith foresees efficiency gains but rejects the idea that AI can fundamentally replace the human “core” of journalism: reporting, judgment, translation of events, and professional standards.

  Quote:
  “First and foremost [journalism] is a human endeavor, by humans, for humans.” — Meredith Kopit Levien [22:29]

• AI’s greatest value will be augmenting, not replacing, journalists and freeing them to do more impactful work.

• The Times currently employs ~3,000 journalists/content creators, and Meredith does not anticipate wholesale reductions—“absolutely do not believe there will be wholesale replacement.”

7. Subscription Growth: What Drives Engagement and Retention?

[24:58 – 29:21]

• Scott highlights NYT’s transformation to a subscription-first model; 75% of revenue now comes from subscriptions.
• Meredith details the Times’ multifaceted audience segments: news (broadly defined), sports (the Athletic), games (including Wordle, Connections, Strands), lifestyle (cooking), and product reviews (Wirecutter).
• Success depends on prioritizing high-impact projects and making Times content as engaging to “watch” as it is to “read and listen.”

8. Political Climate & Press Freedom

[29:21 – 33:21]

• Scott raises concerns about government pressure (“the chill”) on media organizations and extra legal scrutiny.
• Meredith asserts: “The Times is not being chilled or cowed,” and continues to “pursue the truth wherever it may lead.”
• She laments increasing political attacks on press independence, noting America’s tradition of bipartisan support for a free press and calling present threats “terrible for the country.”
• The Times employs more lawyers than ever to protect journalistic freedoms and ensure journalist safety (especially in conflict zones).

9. Parenting in the Digital Age: Personal Reflections

[36:23 – 44:08]

• Transitioning to a personal note, Scott and Meredith discuss parenting teenage boys amidst screens, algorithms, and digital distractions.

• Meredith expresses pride in her son and worries—like many parents—about screen time and algorithmic influences.

• She stresses the need to be emotionally and physically present, to listen, and to accept vulnerability and imperfection in parenting, seeking advice from her own mother and reflecting on the lifelong nature of parental concern.

  Quote:
  “There is no moment when your children are not on your mind … I have to work really hard … to put my own devices away and really be looking him in the eye.” — Meredith Kopit Levien [39:39 & 41:13]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Meredith on AI and journalism’s humanity:
  “Are you going to send a bot into a locker room to talk to a team that’s just not made the tournament?” [22:48]

• On industry collaboration:
  “When America was leaving Afghanistan, the Times worked with a number of news organizations ... to help get people ... safely out of Afghanistan.” — Meredith Kopit Levien [12:33]

• Scott on parenting:
  “Our sons are not impressed. They do not believe we can fire them or give them a bonus.” [40:59]

• On career legacy:
  “Ensuring that we are in a position to always find and grow the widest possible audience for the work of the New York Times.” — Meredith Kopit Levien [46:52]

Notable Timestamps for Key Segments

• NYT’s growth and newsroom investment: [03:36 – 06:58]
• AI lawsuits, partnerships, and copyright: [08:05 – 11:36]
• Media industry collaboration (or lack thereof): [09:59 – 14:38]
• AI and the core of journalism: [21:09 – 24:58]
• Subscription model & new products: [26:02 – 29:21]
• Political “chill” and legal resources: [29:21 – 33:21]
• Parenting, presence, and digital worries: [36:23 – 44:08]

Tone & Style

Candid, thoughtful, and pragmatic—a balance of strategic acumen and personal warmth. Both Galloway and Levien employ humor, personal anecdotes, and strong convictions about the challenges and purposes of journalism and parenting.

Conclusion

The episode is a robust, multifaceted conversation exploring the future of journalism amid technological upheavals, the business imperatives and social purpose of the New York Times, and the personal dimension of leadership and parenthood. Meredith Kopit Levien offers nuanced optimism about journalism’s future, grounded in human skill, collaborative spirit, and relentless innovation—while candidly acknowledging the risks and pressures of the present moment.