According to Democracy Now: The National Geographic Society has sold the National Geographic Magazine and "other media assets" to Rupert Murdoch. I am grieving as I write this intro. I am so shocked I can't even shed tears yet.
This magazine was a respected and solid institution documenting the confluence of Nature, Science, and Culture. I will miss it for the rest of my life unless another form of it is miraculously resurrected within what remains of the National Geographic Society non-profit.
Also From http://gizmodo.com/... I pulled these paragraphs on the story:
News broke yesterday afternoon that Australian media mogul and climate change denier Rupert Murdoch has purchased a majority stake in National Geographic, a magazine and scientific organization that has been staunchly non-profit since its first issue in 1888.
National Geographic is going commercial, partnering with 21st Century Fox to create a new for-profit venture: National Geographic Partners (NGP). NGP will gather under a single umbrella not just the magazine, but also the cable TV channels, studios, maps, digital media, and pretty much everything else associated with the venerable brand. At least the National Geographic Society will remain firmly in the non-profit sector (for now).
Read the full story at http://gizmodo.com/...
I feel like Jimmy Stewart, in Its a Wonderful Life, walking down the Main street of Bedford Falls as he experiences "not being born." Stewart (playing the character of George Bailey) sees nothing but the gaudy flash of competing commercial entities--only out to make a buck. After recovering from the blinding glitz, George Bailey then experiences the now broken community of Bedford Falls: just one of the casualties of the resulting rampant "sociopathic" capitalism running Bedford Falls. In the story, because George was not born, profit motives of a certain miserly character, "Mr. Potter," were running Bedford Falls in lieu of the Bailey Building and Loan and the Bailey family's important legacy of concern for people, neighbors, and community. George Bailey eventually wakes up to value his life, his family and the generous legacy of the Building and Loan. However, I don't get to wake up from this current capitalistic nightmare.
I sometimes forget how old I am. But I guess I am old enough to watch the Reagan revolution take out one more respected institution of America's commons.
I will write more later after my grief passes into increased introspection...and I recover more of my thinking and writing skills....but here are my questions:
How did we let this important all American asset slip away?
Did we as a public not support this amazing institution enough?
Did National Geographic lose other types of public funding?
Did the National Geographic Board members get too caught up in the idea of "profits" or did they experience pressure for profits by major benefactors?
Did we all lose sight of what is really important?
Just because something has been around for 120 years plus does not mean its irrelevant.
Stopped thinking about National Geographic? Just thought it would never go away? Well now its gone ....maybe forever.
What's next? Privatize the National Parks? (I have heard this sound bite as well)