The paper's design director defends its expanded summary pages.

Bodkin isn't dismissive of the new look's critics, acknowledging that different readers have different styles of reading.

His intent is to set out "the thematic organization of the paper a little more aggressively. Which, again—for the hardcore reader—isn't all that important. But it's a big, complicated paper, and it helps to organize the paper."

By the conclusion of our interview, Bodkin had talked me down from my ledge. I'm not sure Times readers want or need such a condensation, but having been given permission by the architect of the new welcome mat to ignore it, I'll do my best to coexist.

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