I have been reading National Geographic for more than 50 years since our American uncle gave us a subscription every year for Xmas. Now, I only read two a year simply because I find it boring. Too often there are no human stories in it. Learning about people and their lives throughout the world was what made it interesting. The in depth stories along with the photographs made me want to learn more. Now there are few of these articles. People damage the world and people will silve the problems but only if we know about them no matter how unpalatable they might be.
Perhaps this is the time to remember we have a massive impact on the species that we share the world with. I"m all in for a non-human centered magazine that is not ego-centric. It reminds us to be humble and respect the incredible sentience of all wild species, human included.
In the 1970s I expected to world to get better....
I have unilaterally declared the NO ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATION called The 2025 2026 2027 INTERNATIONAL ARTIST'S CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES THRU ART FRAGRANT FLOWERS MILKWEED AND YOUR IDEA HERE. NO SIGN UP. NO DUES.NO EMAILS
Charlie - this story sadly confirms what we knew, and is still shocking and heartbreaking. Interested to hear how we can help get the word out and support your work.
Hey Charlie. Hello from Rio de Janeiro! I'm also a former Nat Geo reader. It's the magazine that turned me into a photographer. And the one that keeps me pushing myself to become a climate storyteller, like yourself, somehow.
Could this be an opportunity for the birth of a new "nat geo society"? As you rightly stated, this coverage is something that humanity needs, and many people agree. Not enough audience for a massive corporation to fund, but maybe there are enough people out there to help fund this crucial work.
Nat Geo = Disney says it all about the decline of the publication and it’s truly heartbreaking. Moreover, there are others like you out there that do crave substance and not 10-second sound bites and dopamine hits from social media. We care and words and images matter. I hold out hope for more to see the light through this information paradigm shift; that is for those of us privileged enough to be in the midst of it.
the inflation of human importance above that of planetary health will be the downfall of the human race. you might get hissed at, but o agree wholeheartedly. give people what they need, not what they want.
In the period before thatcher and after ww2 in britain there was a period of paternalism among the british media elite. The tv programs were made first and foremost with the intention to enrich the lives common citizen. What low brow programs were made, were made to draw people into the stimulating and thought provoking content provided.
Then came thatcher and “public choice”. Leading to the gradual decline into low brow slop offered on tv today. Some people will call it just capitalism. I call it more an aversion to elitism. The people had been lulled into a sense that the patricians were not good for them. The elites had not guarded their paternalism. In the misguided belief that maybe the average person is smart enough to choose. But people are sheep, pigs even. The herd is only as good as its shepherds.
And until good people understand that, it will be the slop merchants who win the day. The people love slop. Its comforting. Uncomfortable truths aren’t.
Hey Charlie, appreciate the truth being told here, even if it is hard to stomach. I'm curious if you think places like Substack can fill in where these publications have left a hole. Even if it takes time, do you think self-publishing can become a place where these stories can be directly funded by the audience of the photographers, journalists, and editors themselves? Would love to hear your take. Thanks for the post!
Stories that don’t sell might just be the ones we need the most. If we let ratings decide what’s important, who will speak for the silent wings of raptors or the hidden scars of our planet? Conservation can’t survive on clickbait
This is such an important message. We do need to hear what we don't want to hear. I think another question to ask is, is there any way to share these stories but also give readers a way to feel empowered? What I notice in myself, is that stories on environment leave me feeling worthless and that my voice has no importance. The whole idea of feeding us what we want to hear and not what we need, is feeding a monster of ignorance.
This should be an open letter to Disney that everyone can sign.
I have been reading National Geographic for more than 50 years since our American uncle gave us a subscription every year for Xmas. Now, I only read two a year simply because I find it boring. Too often there are no human stories in it. Learning about people and their lives throughout the world was what made it interesting. The in depth stories along with the photographs made me want to learn more. Now there are few of these articles. People damage the world and people will silve the problems but only if we know about them no matter how unpalatable they might be.
Perhaps this is the time to remember we have a massive impact on the species that we share the world with. I"m all in for a non-human centered magazine that is not ego-centric. It reminds us to be humble and respect the incredible sentience of all wild species, human included.
In the 1970s I expected to world to get better....
I have unilaterally declared the NO ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATION called The 2025 2026 2027 INTERNATIONAL ARTIST'S CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES THRU ART FRAGRANT FLOWERS MILKWEED AND YOUR IDEA HERE. NO SIGN UP. NO DUES.NO EMAILS
If you can please plant milkweed.
Dodobbird.pixels.com
Charlie - this story sadly confirms what we knew, and is still shocking and heartbreaking. Interested to hear how we can help get the word out and support your work.
Hey Charlie. Hello from Rio de Janeiro! I'm also a former Nat Geo reader. It's the magazine that turned me into a photographer. And the one that keeps me pushing myself to become a climate storyteller, like yourself, somehow.
Could this be an opportunity for the birth of a new "nat geo society"? As you rightly stated, this coverage is something that humanity needs, and many people agree. Not enough audience for a massive corporation to fund, but maybe there are enough people out there to help fund this crucial work.
I guess it's why we're all here on Substack.
As one of those staffers for nearly 20 yrs this brings tears to my eyes.
Nat Geo = Disney says it all about the decline of the publication and it’s truly heartbreaking. Moreover, there are others like you out there that do crave substance and not 10-second sound bites and dopamine hits from social media. We care and words and images matter. I hold out hope for more to see the light through this information paradigm shift; that is for those of us privileged enough to be in the midst of it.
the inflation of human importance above that of planetary health will be the downfall of the human race. you might get hissed at, but o agree wholeheartedly. give people what they need, not what they want.
We need Nat Geo to step up, as in the past, above corp greed. Grateful for you CHJ
You write with a level of clarity the world is badly in need of. Great work
In the period before thatcher and after ww2 in britain there was a period of paternalism among the british media elite. The tv programs were made first and foremost with the intention to enrich the lives common citizen. What low brow programs were made, were made to draw people into the stimulating and thought provoking content provided.
Then came thatcher and “public choice”. Leading to the gradual decline into low brow slop offered on tv today. Some people will call it just capitalism. I call it more an aversion to elitism. The people had been lulled into a sense that the patricians were not good for them. The elites had not guarded their paternalism. In the misguided belief that maybe the average person is smart enough to choose. But people are sheep, pigs even. The herd is only as good as its shepherds.
And until good people understand that, it will be the slop merchants who win the day. The people love slop. Its comforting. Uncomfortable truths aren’t.
Hey Charlie, appreciate the truth being told here, even if it is hard to stomach. I'm curious if you think places like Substack can fill in where these publications have left a hole. Even if it takes time, do you think self-publishing can become a place where these stories can be directly funded by the audience of the photographers, journalists, and editors themselves? Would love to hear your take. Thanks for the post!
Stories that don’t sell might just be the ones we need the most. If we let ratings decide what’s important, who will speak for the silent wings of raptors or the hidden scars of our planet? Conservation can’t survive on clickbait
This is such an important message. We do need to hear what we don't want to hear. I think another question to ask is, is there any way to share these stories but also give readers a way to feel empowered? What I notice in myself, is that stories on environment leave me feeling worthless and that my voice has no importance. The whole idea of feeding us what we want to hear and not what we need, is feeding a monster of ignorance.
Let's see more stories about people organizing national and planetary rent strikes.
Instead of the usual extorting each other for permission to share a planet NONE of us actually own through capitalism specifically real estate.
I'm working on one myself
Ironic yet big applause to say "NO"
This prolog directly breaks ecology chain. Raptors - trophic level 5 are being executed, let's see how trophic level 4 will increase brutally ✨