After revealing that Sunday's New York Times would not feature an image on the front page, but would instead list the names of COVID-19 fatalities, the newspaper was praised online.
“U.S. deaths near 100,000, an incalculable loss," the headline read above six columns of names.
“They were not simply names on a list. They were us," reads the subhead.
“Numbers alone cannot possibly measure the impact of the coronavirus on America, whether it is the number of patients treated, jobs interrupted or lives cut short. As the country nears a grim milestone of 100,000 deaths attributed to the virus, The New York Times scoured obituaries and death notices of the victims. The 1,000 people here reflect just 1 percent of the toll,” the paper explained. “None were mere numbers.”
Here's some of what people were saying about the front page:
Jaw-dropping, horrific. https://t.co/2AWWMrRPVA— Michelangelo Signorile (@Michelangelo Signorile) 1590273609.0
"Mr. Bodkin said he did not remember any front pages without images during his 40 years at The Times. 'This is cert… https://t.co/mBPRWFUbTw— Brooke Jarvis (@Brooke Jarvis) 1590273089.0
This is astonishing. Read closely; It’s not just their names, it’s a one line biography of each and every person. https://t.co/eFDRIyew5f— Rachel Parris (@Rachel Parris) 1590273439.0
Thank you @nytimes for doing this. Trump reaction: "I am going to pretend again to cancel my subscription!" https://t.co/yZzybOKsna— David Mandel (@David Mandel) 1590273642.0
“None were mere numbers.” https://t.co/aXAzCQnnFN— Michael Luo (@Michael Luo) 1590273333.0
The president of the United States played golf today. https://t.co/RD4MeTftMN— Dr. Tammy Ingram 🏳️🌈 (@Dr. Tammy Ingram 🏳️🌈) 1590273158.0
Tomorrow's front page reminds me how powerful the Gray Lady can be. https://t.co/2MBupcxRN2— Nikita Stewart (@Nikita Stewart) 1590273367.0
100,000 dead A terrible milestone Every name a family devastated. A friend lost. A community and a country that wi… https://t.co/TViMp6oylV— Kaz Weida (@Kaz Weida) 1590273171.0
Hard to catch my breath. https://t.co/CyXfXrmuCx— Sherrilyn Ifill (@Sherrilyn Ifill) 1590273491.0
The toll is incomprehensible. https://t.co/wtEo4sClHN— Trymaine Lee (@Trymaine Lee) 1590273608.0
We know the losses are shocking and heartbreaking - but this is a visceral gut punch. https://t.co/l1KQ8nZYZD— Chris Jansing (@Chris Jansing) 1590273371.0
Donald Trump said on February 26 that cases would go down from 15 to almost zero. https://t.co/fMGdVnFjnO— Dr. Miranda Yaver (@Dr. Miranda Yaver) 1590272508.0
Meanwhile, the President golfs. https://t.co/He5X8hIAw0— Franklin Leonard (@Franklin Leonard) 1590273189.0
I don’t know how to metabolize this kind of grief. https://t.co/puKpc9YYNO— Saeed Jones (@Saeed Jones) 1590273622.0
“Romi Cohn, 91, New York City, saved 56 Jewish families from the Gestapo” https://t.co/r2Nugxdcqd— Brett Murphy (@Brett Murphy) 1590273462.0
