NYT to Distribute Columns by Brazil's Ex-President The office of Brazil's former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says he will soon start writing a monthly column to be distributed by the New York Times. Jose Crispiniano, spokesman for the Lula Institute, says the former president and Michael Greenspon, General Manager of the New York Times News Services Division, signed the contract in New York City on Monday. The New York Times is expected to distribute Silva's first column in June. Crispiniano said Silva will write about international politics, the economy and on the "struggle against hunger and misery." Silva's columns will be distributed to New York Times news service subscribers English, Spanish and Portuguese. Crispiniano said without providing further details.