Times Insider: 175 Years Old, but Younger Than Ever? A conversation about how The Times stays up to speed with youth culture.

In 1992, the New York Times Styles section published a glossary of grunge subculture slang words soon to arrive at "a high school or mall near you." An uncool person, for example, was a "lamestain." The article turned out to be a real "harsh realm" (bummer) for the lamestains at The Times when it was revealed that the source for the lexicon, a 25-year-old Seattle record store employee, had made much of it up — a prank that memorialized in print The Times's failure to understand the kids.

Today, The Times is doing more stories and videos that meet younger people where they are, including their voices and reflecting their interests and concerns. Five journalists who cover Gen Z, trends and subcultures share how they gut-check their own cringe and why everyone is obsessed with generational divides.

LOUIS LUCERO II, editor on the Styles desk, 35, notes that language once kept young people at a remove, as if doing an anthropological study. TROY CLOSSON, 28, observes that coverage now comes from younger perspectives. CALLIE HOLTERMANN, 28, recalls being surprised when her high school email was published. STELLA BUGBEE, Styles editor, 50, emphasizes avoiding condescension. MATT YAN, 25, host of the college newsletter, finds younger people open to sharing their passions through the relaunched Extra Credit newsletter.