The Center Will Not Hold (2)

by Alan Mairson on September 10, 2009

How can National Geographic magazine
hope to be the hub of great photojournalism
when great photojournalism
is everywhere?
__________

SusanaRaab 1024x668

Tagged as: photography, photojournalism, TCWNH

  • http://enchiladasblog.blogspot.com/ Greg

    Your overarching point is correct and well to keep in mind. However, is NG claiming to be (or to desire to be) “the hub”? Certainly we could expand and improve our efforts in many areas of member/citizen involvement, but has anyone at NGS claimed to be said hub? If not, this is a bit of a straw man, but if so, a reasonable critique.

    • http://societymatters.org Alan Mairson

      You should ask David Griffin (NGM’s director of photography) and John Griffin (NGM’s publisher) if they want the Magazine to be seen as the hub, or one of a handful of major hubs, where you come to see great photojournalism. My sense is: Yes, they do. And twenty years ago, they might have been able to make a strong case for playing that role. But not anymore. Now, Susana Raab (above) and countless other photographers have their own platform on which to publish.

      So, if David & John say: “Yes, we aspire to be a major hub for photojournalism” —then ask them how they plan to deal with the Susana Raabs of the world.

      And if they say: “No, we’re not trying to be a hub, and Alan’s argument is a straw man,” then ask them how they intend to keep selling advertising pages to Canon. More generally, ask them: What is The Plan?

      (Thanks for your comment, Greg.)

  • http://enchiladasblog.blogspot.com Greg

    Your overarching point is correct and well to keep in mind. However, is NG claiming to be (or to desire to be) “the hub”? Certainly we could expand and improve our efforts in many areas of member/citizen involvement, but has anyone at NGS claimed to be said hub? If not, this is a bit of a straw man, but if so, a reasonable critique.

    • http://societymatters.org Alan Mairson

      You should ask David Griffin (NGM’s director of photography) and John Griffin (NGM’s publisher) if they want the Magazine to be seen as the hub, or one of a handful of major hubs, where you come to see great photojournalism. My sense is: Yes, they do. And twenty years ago, they might have been able to make a strong case for playing that role. But not anymore. Now, Susana Raab (above) and countless other photographers have their own platform on which to publish.

      So, if David & John say: “Yes, we aspire to be a major hub for photojournalism” —then ask them how they plan to deal with the Susana Raabs of the world.

      And if they say: “No, we’re not trying to be a hub, and Alan’s argument is a straw man,” then ask them how they intend to keep selling advertising pages to Canon. More generally, ask them: What is The Plan?

      (Thanks for your comment, Greg.)

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