The Blubber

Starting next year, the iconic yellow-bordered cover of the monthly National Geographic magazine will no longer be available for purchase on newsstands, as the company shifts its focus to its digital product. Special editions will still be offered in physical stores, while subscribers will continue to receive a printed copy every month.

The decision to discontinue newsstand sales is a result of the magazine's reduced reliance on this distribution channel, which accounts for only a small percentage of its monthly circulation of nearly 1.8 million copies.

Even a publication with a history dating back to 1888 is not immune to the financial challenges faced by the media industry. National Geographic, renowned for its captivating global photography, was originally established by the National Geographic Society, an organization dedicated to promoting science and exploration.

In recent years, National Geographic has undergone significant changes in ownership, first being sold to 20th Century Fox and later acquired by the Walt Disney Corporation in 2019. These transitions have been accompanied by layoffs.

Craig Welch, a senior writer for the magazine, recently shared on Twitter that he received his new issue, which featured his 16th and final feature for National Geographic. He mentioned that the magazine was laying off all of its staff writers. In response, the magazine clarified that while it no longer has staff members specifically with the title of "writer," it does have individuals who both write and edit. Going forward, they plan to rely on non-staff contributors to author stories. These changes were implemented as part of a reorganization in April. The company did not disclose the number of jobs affected by the restructuring.

A spokesperson for National Geographic, Chris Albert, emphasized that despite the staffing changes, the magazine remains committed to publishing exceptional multi-platform storytelling with cultural impact. The organization believes that the alterations will provide greater flexibility to tell diverse stories and engage audiences across their various platforms. They refute any suggestions that the recent changes will have a negative impact on the magazine or the quality of its storytelling.