EXHIBIT 12
THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIOS)
(UNAUDITED)
<Table>
<Caption>
FOR THE
QUARTER FOR THE YEARS ENDED
ENDED --------------------------------------------------------------------
MARCH 31, DECEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 26, DECEMBER 27, DECEMBER 28,
2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
---------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE
FIXED CHARGES
Income from continuing operations before income
taxes and income from joint ventures $ 89,226 $ 332,204 $ 637,830 $ 501,912 $ 454,423 $ 384,655
Less: Gain on disposition of assets and other-net 1,250 5,000 85,349 -- 18,452 20,388
Distributed earnings from less than fifty percent
owned affiliates 150 14,859 19,375 13,061 18,192 14,982
Less: Pre-tax preferred stock dividends -- -- -- -- -- 129
---------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Adjusted pre-tax earnings from continuing
operations 88,126 342,063 571,856 514,973 454,163 379,120
Fixed charges less capitalized interest 14,419 64,069 80,876 63,313 56,029 54,805
---------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Earnings from continuing operations before fixed
charges $ 102,545 $ 406,132 $ 652,732 $ 578,286 $ 510,192 $ 433,925
========== ============ ============ ============ ============ ============
FIXED CHARGES
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest $ 11,567 $ 51,405 $ 68,566 $ 52,503 $ 46,927 $ 45,039
Capitalized interest 234 459 -- -- 173 5,394
Less: Pre-tax preferred stock dividends -- -- -- -- -- 129
Portion of rentals representative of interest
factor 2,852 12,664 12,310 10,810 9,102 9,895
---------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Fixed charges $ 14,653 $ 64,528 $ 80,876 $ 63,313 $ 56,202 $ 60,199
========== ============ ============ ============ ============ ============
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 7.00 6.29 8.07 9.13 9.08 7.21
========== ============ ============ ============ ============ ============
</Table>
Note: The Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges should be read in conjunction with
this Form 10-Q as well as the Company's Form 10-K for the period ended
December 30, 2001.