I read an interesting article about theater in the New York Times today.
Italics are used in the sentence above because the italicized words are:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phrase New York Times is italicized because it is the proper name of the publication. 
The scientific name of an organism is incorrect. The phrase New York Times is italicized because it is the proper name of the publication. It is not a scientific name of an organism. 
Words that the reader may not know is incorrect. The phrase New York Times is italicized because it is the proper name of the publication. It does not include words that the reader may not know. 
Intended to be emphasized by the author is incorrect. The phrase New York Times is italicized because it is the proper name of the publication. It is not intended to be emphasized by the author.

I Read an Interesting Article About Theater in the New