What the iconic writers of New Journalism can teach us in the AI era
When Gay Talese’s landmark profile, “Frank Sinatra Has a Cold,” appeared in Esquire in April 1966, it marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of journalism. This was the birth of what came to be known as New Journalism — a narrative-driven style that blended rigorous reporting with literary techniques, placing the reporter’s voice and observations at the heart of the story.
Nearly 60 years later, the principles of New Journalism feel newly urgent, perhaps even revolutionary once more.
As we near 2026, long-form journalists confront the encroaching presence of artificial intelligence in their craft. Many fret that AI bots will soon spin narratives rivaling those crafted by human hands. This tension was the focus of a recent conference where I delivered a keynote address in Bergen, Norway.
Related Knowledge Center: Inside the newsroom
As newsrooms struggle with rickety business models and precarious finances — as well as new technologies — they are deploying an array of editorial responses.
The Times and its critics | Washington Post mortem