Thomas Friedman approves

As part of its "journalistic mission to get people talking on campuses," nytimes.com is set to give free access for its often-ridiculed TimesSelect content to all those with a ".edu" e-mail address. The open access begins March 13. Vivian Schiller, senior vice president and general manager at NYTimes.com: "We wanted to open that up so that college students and professors can have a dialogue."

The Times also wanted to drum up buzz for its "Win a Trip with Nick" contest, in which op-ed columnist Nicholas Kristof, chooses one college or graduate student and one middle or high school teacher to accompany him on a June trip to Africa.

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