National Geographic
What Makes National Geographic A Popular Magazine?
National Geographic is successful as an American popular magazine because it is family-safe and appeals to women. Other popular magazines include Reader's Digest Better Homes and Gardens, Good Housekeeping, Family Circle, Woman's Day , Ladies Home Journal, People, Time, and Prevention. National Geographic has a worldwide circulation in thirty-two language editions of nearly nine million, more than fifty million people receive the magazine every month.
National Geographic is the main publication of the National Geographic Society. Journal publication occurs 12 times each year and includes map supplements. Its main function is to convey knowledge through articles about world history, science, culture, nature, geography, current events, and photography. The magazine is distinctive for its book-like quality and high standard of photography. Like the magazines Better Homes and Gardens and Reader’s Digest, National Geographic attracts a large readership through interesting articles on a wide range of subjects and beautiful pictures that add value to the content of each article.
National Geographic Society began as the largest scientific and educational institution in the world in 1888. The nonprofit society began publishing National Geographic in October of the same year. The magazine, edited by part-time volunteers, was published irregularly until it became a monthly in 1896. The earliest subjects reported upon included geology, meteorology, oceanography, and history of exploration.
The society’s 10-story headquarters in Washington, D.C houses a control center with maps and magnetically posted data and maintains a database of the hundreds of articles in progress and location of writers and photographers. Most articles are eyewitness accounts by staff members or recognized writers and scientists. Society photographers take more than a million pictures a year. Twenty-one staff researchers check and recheck each fact. Since 1959, Chicago, Illinois is the home to the magazine’s printing operations. R.R. Donnelley and Sons use 170-ton ultramodern high-speed presses, custom-built for National Geographic, to accommodate increasing circulation.
In 2000 National Geographic won a National Magazine Award for General Excellence, the most prestigious award given to a magazine publication. In 2005, it won a National Magazine Award in the essays category, honoring excellence in essay writing.
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