New York Times sells out to Chevron to gaslight its readers

• United States

• T Brand Studio

• Chevron

New York Times’ in-house content-marketing agency, T Brand Studio, collaborated with Chevron to produce a branded content article hidden in a scrollytellling immersive format to spotlight Chevron employees as “problem solvers” who are tackling the “energy challenges of today”. The article is titled “Meet the problem solvers” and profiles Chevron’s oil engineers and analysts to humanize one of the world’s largest fossil fuel companies. The article mentions that one renewable energy analyst “grew up in rural China” to show how Chevron “helps people pursue their dreams and a better quality of life.” The article also covers up Chevron’s role in the climate crisis, by justifying their use of fossil fuels and repeating phrases such as “lower carbon intensity”, “today’s energy needs” and “reliable energy” that reflect Chevron’s branding.

In the F-List, we have evidence that the New York Times’ T Brand Studio has collaborated with Chevron since 2016. Previously, the focus was on data and graphics, emphasising energy abundance (of fossil fuels) as crucial for economic growth. This branded content work has helped Chevron renew its social license, even as, in 2026, it recorded its highest quarterly profit in six years.