What the hell happened to National Geographic?

[Binkie The Clown]

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?

[eShirl]

1. got bought out

Rupert Murdoch maybe?

[aidbo]

2. Rupert Murdoch happened to Nat Geo. <------hip 21st century 'abbreviation'

http://ecowatch.com/2015/11/06/murdoch-national-geographic/

[mountain grammy]

3. Now owned by Rupert Murdoch

let the brainwashing continue..

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/national-geographic-magazine-shifts-to-for-profit-status-with-fox-partnership/2015/09/09/7c9f034e-56f0-11e5-8bb1-b488d231bba2_story.html

[Binkie The Clown]

5. Oh great! So next month's issue will feature the quest for Noah's Ark? n/t

[mountain grammy]

6. Undoubtedly!

[GeorgeGist]

16. I heard it's been found ...

in Tyler, TX.

[mountain grammy]

4. Nice to know we're all on DU at 9pm on a Saturday night.

[MADem]

7. Yes, from brick book to pamphlet. Sad.

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

[SusanCalvin]

8. This is really depressing. nt

[kdmorris]

9. I never renewed my subscription after Murdock bought it

I figured it would race to the bottom fast.

[bvf]

10. I remember reading

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.

[edhopper]

13. Said the same thing

about the Wall Street Journal. That was a lie as well.

[Brainstormy]

11. went the way of the "History" (choke) channel, I guess n/t

[sinkingfeeling]

12. It's been destroyed after Murdoch bought it.

[Lordquinton]

14. I grabbed their last issue

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]

15. The "History" offshoot seems to be OK.

"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.

[AlbertCat]

17. The story of Jesus is very geographic.

but it's still just a story.