Truth in Our Times: Inside the Fight for Press Freedom in the Age of Alternative Facts

The lead newsroom lawyer for the New York Times recounts his experience during the most turbulent era for journalism in generations—"Required reading for every American who cares about the future of our country" (Susan Crawford, author of Captive Audience and Fiber) "Arguably the best 25 behind-the-scenes stories from the New York Times newsroom since 9/11. Inarguably better than law school. To read about David McCraw's legal work is largely to envy his career." ―David G. Bradley, Chairman of Atlantic Media In October 2016, when Donald Trump's lawyer demanded that The New York Times retract an article focused on two women that accused Trump of touching them inappropriately, David McCraw's scathing letter of refusal went viral and he became a hero of press freedom everywhere. But as you'll see in Truth in Our Times, for the top newsroom lawyer at the paper of record, it was just another day at the office. McCraw has worked at the Times since 2002, leading the paper's fight for freedom of information, defending it against libel suits, and providing legal counsel to the reporters breaking the biggest stories of the year. In short: if you've read a controversial story in the paper since the Bush administration, it went across his desk first. From Chelsea Manning's leaks to Trump's tax returns, McCraw is at the center of the paper's decisions about what news is fit to print. In Truth in Our Times, McCraw recounts the hard legal decisions behind the most impactful stories of the last decade with candor and style. The book is simultaneously a rare peek behind the curtain of the celebrated organization, a love letter to freedom of the press, and a decisive rebuttal of Trump's fake news slur through a series of hard cases. It is an absolute must-have for any dedicated reader of The New York Times. "McCraw, the deputy general counsel of the New York Times, recounts 17 years of defending the First Amendment and the paper's legal integrity in this passionate memoir. Best known for a letter he wrote responding to a lawsuit threat from President Trump about a report detailing groping accusations against him from two women, McCraw colors his legalese with wit and levity . . . News junkies will relish the insider access." ―Publishers Weekly "A passionate, important defense of the First Amendment and its absolute necessity in a democracy." ―Kirkus Reviews

© 2019 All Points Books (Ebook): 9781250184436

Release date

Ebook: 12 March 2019