New York Times
The New York Times functions as a powerful external force in the narrative of Jaws, representing a national media perspective that stands in direct opposition to the insular, self-protective interests of the Amity community. Its arrival in the story marks a critical turning point, transforming a local, containable tragedy into a national news event with devastating economic and political consequences for the town.
Role in Breaking the Story
The New York Times is the first major national newspaper to report on the shark attacks, doing so with a front-page story on Monday, June 21st. The headline, "SHARK KILLS TWO ON LONG ISLAND," appears three-quarters of the way down the right-hand column on page one, a placement that signals the story's national significance. The article, written by reporter Bill Whitman, details the separate attacks on six-year-old Alexander Kintner and sixty-five-year-old Morris Cater, which occurred within an hour of each other. The Times piece also quotes Dr. David Dieter of the New York Aquarium, who identifies the shark as likely a "great white" and notes the rarity of such multiple-attack fatalities, comparing them to the 1916 New Jersey shore attacks. This report directly contradicts the Amity Leader's initial decision to suppress news of the first attack on Christine Watkins, a suppression orchestrated by Mayor Larry Vaughan and editor Harry Meadows to protect the summer tourist economy.
Impact on the Cover-Up and Local Politics
The Times' coverage shatters the local conspiracy of silence. Chief Martin Brody, who had been pressured by Vaughan and Meadows to keep the beaches open and the first death quiet, is confronted by the newspaper's presence. When Brody arrives at the station house after the second day of attacks, he finds Bill Whitman from the Times already there, along with reporters from Newsday. Whitman's aggressive questioning forces Brody to confront the consequences of his earlier compliance. The Times reporter's presence also exposes the fragility of the town's information control; when Officer Len Hendricks bursts in to report a third attack, Whitman immediately picks up on his reference to a "first one," revealing the suppressed story. The Times' reporting thus acts as a catalyst, compelling Brody to finally close the beaches, an action he had wanted to take from the beginning.
Symbol of External Judgment and Economic Threat
For the town's leadership, the New York Times represents a catastrophic threat to Amity's economic survival. Larry Vaughan, the mayor and a real estate broker, explicitly warns Brody that the Times' coverage will ruin the summer season. He argues that people in New York, Philadelphia, and Cleveland read the paper and will be terrified by the story of a "monster shark," leading to mass cancellations of house rentals. Vaughan's fear is well-founded; the Times article includes specific details about the town's small winter population and its dependence on summer visitors, framing the attacks as a direct threat to the community's way of life. The paper's national reach transforms a local problem into a public relations disaster, making it impossible for Amity to quietly manage the crisis.
Continued Presence and Narrative Function
The New York Times remains a persistent presence throughout the novel. Bill Whitman returns to Amity after the Fourth of July weekend incident, where a boy narrowly escapes the shark. He seeks out Brody and Hooper for information, and his questions highlight the town's ongoing helplessness. Whitman even attempts to join the final hunt for the shark aboard Quint's boat, the Orca, but is rebuffed by Quint. The Times' sustained interest underscores the story's enduring newsworthiness and the failure of Amity's authorities to resolve the crisis. The newspaper thus serves as a narrative device that consistently applies pressure on the characters, forcing them to operate under the scrutiny of a national audience and preventing them from retreating into denial or local expediency.
