Former NYT editor maligns 'corrupt circle-jerk' between World Economic Forum, paper

Former New York Times editor Jill Abramson suggested that the publication gives an inordinate amount of coverage to the World Economic Forum in order to enter the good graces of the various global figures attending the event and thereby securing their appearances at the Times' functions.

"I noticed (after I was gone), much more 'news' coverage in the Times of Davos, quoting the attendees and speakers at those endless panels," Abramsons told Semafor. "Of course, the coverage was a sweetener to flatter the CEOs by seeing their names in the NYT so that they would then speak at high-dollar NYT conferences and — of course — get phony news stories from the conferences into the paper... It was — and is‚ a corrupt circle-jerk."

The World Economic Forum is currently meeting in Davos, Switzerland. The event is something of a lightning rod for conservative criticism as many of the attendees and speakers advocate for economic reforms and developmental visions that advance a globalized economy and society.

The Times has not always covered the goings on at Davos at its current level of detail. Abramson observed that her predecessor, Josh Lelyveld, "wanted to ban reporters" from attending the entire event, per the outlet. 

Abramson was the Times' first female executive editor. The paper fired her in 2014.