1st Woman of NGM named Chief Editor !

[Scott T. Shier]

Well, this has been 126 years in the making, but Mrs. Susan Goldberg has been named Editor-in-Chief of the NGM, with the July 2014 issue (Editor's page). 

Some of you may have already seen this, depending on everyone's July NGM mail delivery timing. Interesting that there's no specific Society press release about this. For all intents and purposes Goldberg has already been the Chief since April 30th, but the May & June NMG's did not reflect that fact (there's always "pipeline" time lag). Still, usually their press releases are always ahead of the curve. 


A few thoughts: 

 

• I am happy to see a woman named
• Susan Goldberg only joined the Society/NGM in January of this year
• I had been thinking for a long time that Victoria Pope was going to be named the first lady chief editor, as she was installed as the #2, Executive Editor for a number of years under Chris Johns, but she was removed and re-shuffled down the masthead in the recent past (unclear reasons)
• I was not expecting some news or developments w/ Chris Johns editorship until later, in fact late this year. There's been an unofficial tradition at NGM for a long time that Editors tend to serve about 10 years [ +/- a month(s) ].
• without wanting to denigrate Mrs. Goldberg, I really would have wished for the TENTH Editor of our NGM to have at least been within the Society/Magazine family for a few years at minimum . . . I am always concerned about "institutional" memory, values, and priorities.

(Q.) Con about this news?

     (A.) Chris Johns is no longer editor (a good thing for me), yet he is still floating in the top-bracket executive structure as supreme "content director" for all NGM publishing/magazines/online,etc. Then again, effective on April 30th, he seems to have been stripped of his VP status (go Knell!).

(Q.) Pro about this news? 

     (A.)  Perhaps Mrs. Goldberg's harder news journalism background will bode well for NGM's "substance". She has a 'serious' background in news, hard reporting, and integrity in fairness and honesty -- a good sign. Mr. Johns was not a good editor/leader for THIS magazine. He should have remained as a photographer. 


Society announcement from January RE_ Mrs. Goldberg's joining the team   ----->

http://press.nationalgeographic.com/2014/01/02/national-geographic-... 

Prior Society announcement about Chris Johns expanded role/elevation to VP Exec. status, under still then-CEO John Fahey   ----->

http://press.nationalgeographic.com/2013/06/05/with-promotion-of-ch... 


When I saw that a year ago, I knew that it was John Fahey's doing:

Fahey was positioning (and rewarding) Johns so that by 2015 when the inevitable departure from NGM's Editorship came about, Johns would have a cushy place to land. The writing was on the wall for a while that Fahey's days were numbered, and he was doubtless wanting to get some of "his" people planted before he himself was out of the Society's #1 spot. Any leader best ensures their 'legacy' and also maintenance of their vision, by leaving loyal acolytes behind to carry their initiatives forward. 

However, I think in very deft ways, Gary Knell is already side-stepping and undoing some of Fahey, Murdoch's, and Johns' "very good work". 

And I wish Mr. Knell & Mrs. Goldberg the very best, from the bottom of my heart. The Reg Murphy/John Fahey era were-and-have-been an abomination. 


             ~ Scott T. Shier

[George Thomas Wilson]

Scott,

Thanks for the info.

Tom

[Scott T. Shier]

heh heh Tom,

...well not quite "straight info. relaying" this time - there was no way for me to not include some of my feelings and observations. I've been biting my tongue quite a bit this last several years, but every once in a while, one needs to vent a bit, to prevent a larger explosion elsewise!

- Scott