The release of three million pages, 180,000 images, and 2,000 videos by the U.S. Department of Justice regarding Jeffrey Epstein has presented The New York Times with a formidable journalistic challenge. The key question for the newspaper is not just what to publish but how to navigate this overwhelming volume of material. This requires a slow and careful verification process rather than a dash for exclusive stories, reflecting the complexities of reporting in an age dominated by algorithms and digital information management.

Approximately 24 journalists are currently engaged in reviewing the files, yet only about 2-3% has been examined so far, underscoring the scale of the undertaking. The New York Times has begun this investigation not by diving into the documents but by first establishing the necessary infrastructure. The interactive news and artificial intelligence team has been at the forefront of developing tools to manage this massive influx of data, allowing for rapid downloads, searches, classification, and extraction of information from images, among other features.

This endeavor highlights a significant shift in the journalistic process, where technology plays a crucial role in enabling reporters to cope with immense amounts of information efficiently. The ongoing investigation into Epstein's case is not merely about discovering new content but about orchestrating a comprehensive examination of existing materials to construct a coherent narrative around the serious allegations made against him. As this project unfolds, it raises critical questions about the future of journalism in the digital age and the evolving methods of tackling complex stories with a wealth of data.