That picture is not from "a conference in Spain". They received the Prince of Asturias Award. This is the most important award you can get in Spain. It is similar in spirit to Nobel prizes. Of course, it does not have the same prestige, but NYT should know better.
That’s the caption of the photo from Getty Images which is an accurate depiction of what’s in the photograph, it does not depict the award ceremony itself.
“Internet Pioneers Attend Media Conference
OVIEDO, SPAIN - OCTOBER 24: (L-R) Internet pioneers Vinton Cerf, Lawrence Roberts, Robert Kahn, Vinton Cerf and Tim Berners-Lee attend a media conference the day before they receive the Prince of Asturias award for Science and Technology investigation October 24, 2002 in Oviedo, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_of_Asturias_Awards