Thomas Gaffney
About Thomas Gaffney
Thomas Gaffney is a Senior Staff Editor at The New York Times, where he has worked since 2018. He has a background in legal editing and holds degrees in Political Science, Public Administration, and Public Policy.
Work at The New York Times
Thomas Gaffney has served as a Senior Staff Editor at The New York Times since 2018. In this role, he is responsible for checking news articles for tone, accuracy, and style. Gaffney has a significant role in reviewing and approving the front page of the newspaper. He also writes headlines for various stories each night and signs off on headlines created by fellow editors. His previous experience at The New York Times includes positions as a News Clerk, Freelance Reporter, Wordplay Blogger, and Front Page Designer from 2010 to 2015.
Previous Experience in Legal Editing
Before joining The New York Times, Thomas Gaffney worked at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz as a Legal Editor in the Litigation Department from 2017 to 2018. His role involved editing legal documents and ensuring clarity and precision in legal writing. This experience contributed to his editorial skills, particularly in maintaining accuracy and adherence to style guidelines.
Educational Background
Thomas Gaffney holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the College of the Holy Cross, where he studied from 2004 to 2008. He furthered his education by obtaining a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) from Columbia University in the City of New York, studying from 2014 to 2016. Additionally, he achieved a Master of Public Policy from the Hertie School of Governance in 2016. His educational background supports his analytical and editorial capabilities.
Research and International Experience
Gaffney's professional experience includes a role as a Research Assistant at Columbia Business School in 2010, where he worked for 11 months. He also served as a Fulbright Scholar at the U.S. Department of State from 2008 to 2009 in Macau, China. This international experience and research role have contributed to his understanding of global issues and informed his editorial perspective.