New York Times Company.

The National Desk, also referred to as the National News Desk or the Telegraph Desk, is the department responsible for the development and presentation of The New York Times' reporting on the United States. At the time of these records' creation, it was one of three main news desks at The Times, along with the Metropolitan Desk and the Foreign Desk. Staff members include the national-news editor who headed the department, news editors in New York City, and editors and correspondents in the various city bureaus and regional outposts around the country. Washington, D.C. has the largest and most independent bureau, while Albany, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, and other cities have smaller staffs under the supervision of the National Desk. Also vital to the department's operations are regional staff reporters and the stringers (freelance contributors networked around the country that often worked for local newspapers). In the 1960s, The Times created the role of director of news direction (later titled National News Director), who took over most of the duties of the national news editor, including assigning stories, making final editorial decisions, and managing personnel across the country. By the 1970s, the title of national news editor was back in use. The staff members best represented in this collection are the National News Editor Raymond B. O'Neill (1951-1968), Daily Assignments Editor Harold R. Faber (1951-1971), Director of National Correspondent Harrison E. Salisbury (1962-1964), National News Director Claude Sitton (1964-1968), National News Editor David R. Jones (1972-1987), and Assistant Managing Editor James Greenfield (1977-1991).

From the guide to the New York Times Company records. National Desk records, 1949-1984, (The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.)

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