From New York with love, a special gift for puzzle lovers in Southeast Missouri

A limited number of Southeast Missourian subscribers will get free access to the New York Times crossword puzzle app for 3 months

When the Southeast Missourian reduced print frequency in March from six days to three due to the financial impact of the coronavirus, it created a dilemma for newspaper management. While a crossword puzzle was produced digitally for readers on non-print days, it wasn’t an ideal solution for those who like to fill in the blanks, especially for those without home printers. That led publisher Jon K. Rust to drop a line to former New York Times vice chairman of the board Michael Golden. The two knew each other from prior service together on the Associated Press board.

“No one produces a better crossword puzzle than the New York Times,” Rust said. “And I really wanted to find something delightful to present to the readers who were sticking with us through hard times. Maybe, just maybe, a fellow newspaper lover would make the puzzle app free to them for a period of time.”

Rust didn’t want to bother Golden when New York City was careening toward a COVID-19 surge, but sometimes, even a small good deed in the face of negative events can be therapeutic. It can also lift up the morale of all those involved. Golden was quick to respond, explaining he would see what could be done.

A couple weeks later, Rust and Southeast Missourian webmaster James Baughn found themselves on a video call with New York Times executives Rebecca Grossman-Cohen and Samantha “Sam” Felix. Baughn and the New York Times crew called in from home offices. Rust joined the call from the Southeast Missourian office in downtown Cape Girardeau. Talk about children, working from home, walking outside, and surviving through this difficult time kicked off the conversation.

Then a plan was quickly hatched.

The New York Times would offer three months of the Crossword app for free to a limited number of Southeast Missourian readers. Regular price is $6.99 per month. Thirty-five of those downloads would be set aside and reserved for readers who had already contacted the newspaper about crossword puzzles. If demand is larger than the supply, then the NYT team and the Southeast Missourian would re-group to consider next steps.

“I am so thrilled and appreciative,” Rust said. “I’ve been a subscriber to both the New York Times and its crossword puzzle app for years. There really is no better crossword app in the world. And not only does a user get access to the daily NYT crossword in a format that’s a joy to do — for experts and novices alike — but there’s access to archived puzzles, hints and my favorite: the Daily Mini. This is a smaller, easier puzzle right out of today’s headlines.”

To gain free access to the NYT Crossword app for three months, Southeast Missourian subscribers should sign up at www.semissourian.com/crossword. After authentication of an active subscription, a special individual code with instructions on how to download the app will be emailed back. The first 65 to respond — outside of those already on a Southeast Missourian daily crossword puzzle email list — will qualify for the free offer. Next steps for those outside the first 100 will be deliberated upon understanding further interest.

“I learned so much from engaging with Michael on the AP board,” Rust said. “Among them was his quote of basketball coaching great John Wooden: ‘The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.’ Michael and the New York Times certainly aren’t making their app free to Southeast Missourian readers because of publicity. They didn’t even start this process thinking about this effort being public at all. I interpret their actions — from Michael, Rebecca, Sam and the whole Crosswords team — as a gift to the rest of us in a trying time: a gesture of respect, love and human camaraderie. Thank you New York Times!”

Meanwhile, to serve puzzle-loving print readers without access to a smart phone or other device, the Southeast Missourian will continue to publish two puzzles in the newspaper on print days.

__For more information about this subscriber special, go to__ www.seMissourian.com/crossword.