[T]he extensive use of Times material from so many writers has drawn at least some grumblings among staffers. In addition to not being paid for their work to be re-used, some are miffed that they are not even being told what material from their past is included. Although each item, from single-paragraphs to lengthy article reprints, is fully credited, none of the items are indexed by author. "Due to the sheer number of entries, we cannot write each one of you and tell you exactly what yours is," Ward wrote contributors in an e-mail last month. "Secondly, with very few exceptions, there is no payment. (A handful of writers whose entries formed a significant part of a particular section will be notified separately and receive an honorarium.)"

Anthony Napoli, a representative of the Newspaper Guild of New York, which represents Times staffers, said the paper is not legally obligated to pay for the use of material that has already appeared in print. "If they are doing it as a regular employee, it belongs to the New York Times," he said about such material. "The content belongs to them."

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"I prefer being paid to not being paid," said Eric Asimov, a wine writer whose views on vino fill several pages of the new book. "I don't think anyone would argue with that." Columnist Nicholas Kristof, whose opinions on hybrid cars from a previous column span several pages in the guide, said the book is the latest in a growing move to make more money from the paper's work. "There is certainly more of an effort to use the brand and find ways of taking control and making money off of it more systematically," said Kristof. "It is nice if they can include some benefit to the writers."

David Cay Johnston, a Pulitzer Prize winner who had at least one small item in the guide, said he was not troubled by the lack of payment or information on which materials were used, but knew why other writers were. "I understand why some people are and I can see why," he told E&P. "Some people probably feel they should be paid for it."