-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JaJVBj15DaMtnuebvogtzLV3OF2/9uRC+ZrPZN/t2wMl76u8cgF/T8Lm7N4t/Uu3
 wDOwH94Mi3r6pO82X03flg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001182489-03-000223.txt : 20030702
<SEC-HEADER>0001182489-03-000223.hdr.sgml : 20030702
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030702121405
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001182489-03-000223
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030630
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030702

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NEW YORK TIMES CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000071691
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NEWSPAPERS:  PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING [2711]
		IRS NUMBER:				131102020
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		229 W 43RD ST
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2125561234

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		229 W 43RD STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CESAN RAUL E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001023201

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05837
		FILM NUMBER:		03770481

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SCHERING PLOUGH CORP
		STREET 2:		ONE GIRALDA FARMS
		CITY:			MADISON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07940-1000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2018227000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SCHERING PLOUGH CORP
		STREET 2:		ONE GIRALDA FARMS
		CITY:			MADISON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07940-1000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -2003-06-30
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-06-30</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000071691</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEW YORK TIMES CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NYT</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001023201</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CESAN RAUL E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Unit</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-06-30</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>784.7514</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionValue><value>0</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>784.7514</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3572.5259</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Phantom Stock Units credited to reporting person's account under The New York Times Company Non-Employee Directors Deferral Plan, on 6/30/2003, based on the market price of $45.50 per share of Class A Common Stock. Distribution in cash is generally made upon retirement.  This transaction involved a derivative security that does not have an exercisable date or an expiration date.  Because dates must now be entered into these fields under the requirements of the SEC's electronic filing system, the date 08/08/1988 has been entered in those fields as a "dummy date" per guidance from the SEC staff.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Rhonda L. Brauer, Attorney-in-Fact for Raul E. Cesan</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-02</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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