The New York Times Is Looking to Shed Some Excess Weight

It seems the New York Times Co. (NYSE:NYT) is dumping excess weight, as the popular newspaper company looks to once again sell The Boston Globe four years after it tried the same thing in 2009.

Sixteen years after the New York Times bought The Boston Globe for $1.1 billion, it tried to sell it, but eventually decided to keep the company after agreements with unions and some cost-cutting. This time the company appears more interested in narrowing its focus and widening the Times’ readership, which means cutting other endeavors from the picture.

The Boston Globe isn’t the only thing the Times is looking to sell. The Globe’s related websites and GlobeDirect mail marketing company and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette are also up for sale. The Times Co. will also be divesting from the free daily Metro Boston. The Times has already sold its About.com website and its regional media group…