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Binkie The Clown

(7,911 posts)
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 10:57 PM Mar 2016

What the hell happened to National Geographic?

This month's issue is on the supermarket stands, in the same size and format, and skimpy page count as all the rest of the mass market magazines, with the cover blaring out "The Story of Jesus." Really? National Geographic?

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What the hell happened to National Geographic? (Original Post) Binkie The Clown Mar 2016 OP
got bought out eShirl Mar 2016 #1
Rupert Murdoch happened to Nat Geo. <------hip 21st century 'abbreviation' aidbo Mar 2016 #2
Now owned by Rupert Murdoch mountain grammy Mar 2016 #3
Oh great! So next month's issue will feature the quest for Noah's Ark? n/t Binkie The Clown Mar 2016 #5
Undoubtedly! mountain grammy Mar 2016 #6
I heard it's been found ... GeorgeGist Mar 2016 #16
Nice to know we're all on DU at 9pm on a Saturday night. mountain grammy Mar 2016 #4
Yes, from brick book to pamphlet. Sad. MADem Mar 2016 #7
This is really depressing. nt SusanCalvin Mar 2016 #8
I never renewed my subscription after Murdock bought it kdmorris Mar 2016 #9
I remember reading bvf Mar 2016 #10
Said the same thing edhopper Mar 2016 #13
went the way of the "History" (choke) channel, I guess n/t Brainstormy Mar 2016 #11
It's been destroyed after Murdoch bought it. sinkingfeeling Mar 2016 #12
I grabbed their last issue Lordquinton Mar 2016 #14
The "History" offshoot seems to be OK. onager Mar 2016 #15
The story of Jesus is very geographic. AlbertCat Mar 2016 #17

MADem

(135,425 posts)
7. Yes, from brick book to pamphlet. Sad.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 11:09 PM
Mar 2016

They had a massive firing - let go most if not all of the staff, down to the cartographers.

 

bvf

(6,604 posts)
10. I remember reading
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 01:31 AM
Mar 2016

that his interest in the National Geographic Society (Foundation?) would have no impact on the publication itself--a supposedly independent entity. Didn't believe it for a minute.

Lordquinton

(7,886 posts)
14. I grabbed their last issue
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 01:45 PM
Mar 2016

It was a huge issue about climate change, and the disastrous effects and all that. The next issue was about the miracle of the virgin Mary.

The worst part is that there is no substitute for that magazine, we lost a treasure.

onager

(9,356 posts)
15. The "History" offshoot seems to be OK.
Mon Mar 21, 2016, 09:08 AM
Mar 2016

"National Geographic History Magazine." Though I guess Murdoch will eventually screw up that one too.

This month's cover story is on pirates. And who doesn't like pirates? Also articles about Socrates, the sack of Rome, the design of the White House and Pharaoh Akenaton and Nefertiti.

The last one was interesting because it puts forth a plausible theory I've heard about before. I.e., Akhenaton wasn't a fanatic who created a new monotheistic religion because he actually believed it. That was a calculated political move to destroy the immense power of the Egyptian priesthood.

How best to undercut the existing priests? Create your own brand-new religion. Select your own priests. And even build your own new Holy City.

Like in our own time, the Egyptian priests enjoyed a tremendous amount of unearned wealth and power, based solely on their mystical and invisible connection to the Eternal. Hey, Anubis and Ma'at worked in mysterious ways!

In fact, looking at hucksters like the Pope, Franklin Graham and Creflo Dollar, I have to conclude that humans haven't made a whole lot of progress in that area since the days of the Pharaohs.

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