<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-04-22</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2008-04-22</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000071691</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEW YORK TIMES CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NYT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001186015</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEPORE DAWN G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>DRUGSTORE.COM</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>411 108TH AVENUE, NE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BELLEVUE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98004</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>No securities are beneficially owned.

This form is being amended solely to change the Date of Event Requiring Statement.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Rhonda L. Brauer, Attorney-in-fact for Dawn G. Lepore</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-04-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
