An in-depth look at how The New York Times failed in its coverage of the fate of European Jews from 1939-1945. It examines how the decisions that were made at The Times ultimately resulted in the minimizing and misunderstanding of modern history's worst genocide. Laurel Leff, a veteran journalist and professor of journalism, recounts how personal relationships at the newspaper, the assimilationist tendencies of The Times' Jewish owner, and the ethos of mid-century America, all led The Times to consistently downplay news of the Holocaust. It recalls how news of Hitler's 'final solution' was hidden from readers and-because of the newspaper's influence on other media-from America at large.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 377-416) and index.

"Last voice from the abyss" -- I: 1933-1941 -- "Not a Jewish problem" : the publisher's perspective on the Nazis' rise and the refugee crisis -- This here is Germany" : reporting from the Berlin bureau -- "Worthy of France" : the vichy government's anti-semitic laws and concentration camps -- "A new life in Nazi-built ghettos" : German domination of Poland, Rumania, and the Baltic states -- II: 1942-1945 -- "To awaken the conscience of Christendom" : pressure to publicize the first news of the extermination campaign -- "Amidst the advertisements on page 19" : placement decisions and the role of the news editors -- "All Jews are not brothers" : the publisher's fight with Zionists -- "The Semitic question should be avoided" : German atrocities and U.S. government propaganda -- "Final phase of supreme tragedy has begun" : the war refugee board and the destruction of Hungary's Jews -- "Political prisoners, slave laborers, and civilians of many nationalities" : the liberation of the concentration camps -- "Lessons from the Hitler tragedy" : the publisher and the aftermath of war -- "The horrible story was not told.".