NYT Crossword Answers for Feb. 12, 2025

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WEDNESDAY PUZZLE — Do you ever feel as though a crossword puzzle is speaking directly to you? That was my experience while solving today’s puzzle, constructed by Philip Koski. Some of it is just too relatable: I can’t be the only one, for instance, who winced in recognition at 65-Across. But the theme itself struck me as uncannily tailored to my interests, and I expect that anyone who works in media or journalism will feel similarly spoken to.

This is an especially chewy Wednesday otherwise, with ample room for barely noticeable mistakes (some of which I made and have reviewed for your convenience in the Tricky Clues section below). Shall we read it and weep together?

Today’s Theme

You’ve no doubt found out [where some journalism is located] (60A/63A) through your own online reading habits: BEHIND A PAYWALL. This phrase also reveals a key to interpreting the ends of 20-, 30- and 44-Across in relation to the shaded squares.

First, let’s review the entries in question: [The] is a DEFINITE ARTICLE (20A) — or the definite article, as it’s the only one we have in English. It is not to be confused with “the genuine article,” which is just a nice thing to say. But I digress: One who [Talks frankly] (30A) SPEAKS ONE’S PIECE, and [Success against all odds] is known as a CINDERELLA STORY (44A).

The shaded squares, once filled, spell WAGE and SALARY. And they represent a literal wall of pay-related words, behind which we find ARTICLE, PIECE and STORY — i.e., news items. You might have also seen Mr. Koski’s extra wink at 26A with [Cover story?], which refers not to front-page news but to a FIB.