For the New York Times, an unexpected thing happened on the way to market dominance. She continually improved.

You don’t have to have a degree in economics to know that competition is the lifeblood of our economy. And yet, as minor, mid, and major papers fade from view, the most dominant paper is peaking. Go figure.

Exhibit A is this type of multimedia story detailing why you increasingly feel like you’re up against it. “Life Feeling Too Expensive? It’s Not Just You. And It’s Not Just Inflation.“

Oh, want something lighter, okay. Exhibit B, this example from an excellent series titled “Modern Love”. “On Our Third Date, I Asked for a Joint Bank Account.” It’s a slowish burn, but if you stick with it, there is a wonderful insight about romantic love. Okay, spoiler alert, both people have to be their whole selves for it to have any chance of “working”.

Still not convinced? Exhibit C. “This Emily Dickinson Poem Will Hit You Where You Live.” Major props to A.O. Scott for getting Ronald Scot, a poetry neophyte, to not just read it closely, but appreciate its brilliance.

And I haven’t even mentioned the mouth dripping recipes, the numerous word games, and most significantly, it’s commitment to holding power to account.

She has cast her net so widely and so successfully, how the hell are upstarts supposed to identify niches to exploit?

Here’s hoping The Gray Lady doesn’t get complacent and that a thousand upstarts throw caution to the wind and somehow bloom.