The New York Times has faced challenges with insider language in two key ways:
- Copyrighted content used in AI training datasets
The Times discovered its paywalled articles and other copyrighted materials were being incorporated into prominent AI training datasets like Common Crawl and WebText, potentially diverting readers away from the original sources. This led the Times to request the removal of its content from these datasets.
- Avoiding insider language in external communications
As a news organization, the Times recognizes the importance of speaking plainly and avoiding jargon when communicating with readers and the general public. They advise:
- Identifying insider language used internally
- Creating a list of words to avoid in external communications and providing alternatives
- Using quality check tools to scan communications for jargon before publishing
- Focusing on speaking plainly and explaining concepts clearly to outsiders
The Times Insider column provides behind-the-scenes insights into how news, features and opinion come together at the publication. This demonstrates transparency and helps readers better understand the Times’ processes. While insider language is natural within an organization, the Times emphasizes the need to be conscious of it when speaking and writing to outsiders. Avoiding jargon and using plain language helps improve the customer experience and maintain trust with readers.
Establish a consistent routine for solving insider language NYT puzzles. Find a quiet space and set aside dedicated time for puzzle-solving. This helps condition your mind to engage effectively and can improve your speed over time. Instead of bouncing between clues and the grid, read groups of adjacent clues at once. This technique minimizes eye movement and helps you see relationships between clues, allowing for quicker answers.