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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,
 TW5Xqk0LKU68cGL7x+zS2KVIuABfeX14JHFPv7kpGoVzYLs/hW+dpVLBKfzIr1zI
 jGYE1gQRqCpwiHCnqpaQtw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001182489-03-000797.txt : 20031223
<SEC-HEADER>0001182489-03-000797.hdr.sgml : 20031223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031223160614
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001182489-03-000797
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031222
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031223

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEWIS RUSSELL T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001212729

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05837
		FILM NUMBER:		031071244

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O THE NEW YORK TIMES CO
		STREET 2:		229 WEST 43RD ST
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-12-22</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000071691</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEW YORK TIMES CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NYT</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001212729</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEWIS RUSSELL T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>229 WEST 43RD STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-12-22</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4550</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>46.11</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>68715</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable></derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Delivery of shares to The New York Times Company to satisfy withholding tax obligation upon vesting of restricted stock granted December 20, 2000.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Solomon B. Watson IV, Attorney-in-Fact for Russell T. Lewis</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-12-22</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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