Times Co. defends moves at the Globe to state politicians

The chairman of The New York Times Co., Arthur Sulzberger Jr., yesterday sent letters to Massachusetts political leaders praising the "quality journalism" of its Boston Globe newspaper while saying that to maintain it, the paper needs "a more stable financial footing."

Sulzberger was responding to Massachusetts political and union leaders who last week accused the company of making excessive cutbacks at the Globe. Stepping into a contract dispute between the Times-owned Globe and its main newsroom and advertising office union, US Senator Edward M. Kennedy and 19 other Bay State elected officials last week wrote Sulzberger, complaining about what they called "a troubling pattern of disinvestment" and coverage cutbacks by Times Co. since it bought the Globe in 1993.

Responding, Sulzberger noted that the officials' letter had acknowledged that "these are very challenging times for the newspaper industry, and the Globe is not immune to those pressures."

"No one is prouder of the Globe's long history of providing quality journalism to its readers than we are," Sulzberger wrote. He noted that since Times Co. bought the Globe, it has won six Pulitzer Prizes, including the 2003 public service award for investigating sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests.

Since buying the Globe, Sulzberger said, "We have taken many steps to put it on a more stable financial footing," such as new print, online, and direct-mail products. "As we move ahead, we will remain focused on ensuring the long-term financial health of the Globe so that it can continue to fulfill its journalistic mission," Sulzberger wrote.

Revenue at Times Co.'s New England Media Group, which includes the Globe and The Worcester Telegram & Gazette, fell 9 percent in the third quarter as overall Times profit dropped 39 percent.

Last week, Globe members of The Boston Newspaper Guild voted 307-223 against a new four-year contract, complaining about linking pay increases to company revenue and excluding revenue of the paper's affiliated Boston.com website in the calculation.

Guild president Daniel B. Totten said all the accomplishments Sulzberger praises "were gained by the most valuable resource the company has: human beings, the people of The Boston Newspaper Guild." Totten said the union will fight for "fair and decent healthcare" insurance and a share of online profits.

Peter J. Howe can be reached at howe@globe.com.