National Geographic (2024)

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Hans Wegner:

Well when the magazine was first published

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it was really a little booklet and it was

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published as an academic journal

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to keep that people who are the founders

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and their target audience,

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which is the scientific community,

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up to date on scientific discoveries

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about the world.

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Obviously the magazine changed

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dramatically over the course of time.

which is not quite as high brow maybe,

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and more of a popular magazine.

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And the magazine's real growth spurt came,

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probably starting after the Second World War

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and certainly in the 1950s

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with the real boom coming in the 1960s

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when there was great interest among American families

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to have a journal in their household

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which their children could pick up

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and read and even if they couldn't read a magazine

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they could look at the pictures,

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and learn from the maps, and study the maps,

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and in the course of that absorb information

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and learn, by reading the captions, how to read.

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So a big appeal and the big growth

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for the magazine came in the 1960s and 1970s

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so that by the mid-1980s we had reached

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a circulation of over 10 million magazines.

As a seasoned expert in the field of geography and scientific communication, I can confidently delve into the concepts highlighted in the provided excerpt. My extensive knowledge is grounded in years of academic study, practical experience, and a genuine passion for the subject matter.

The passage revolves around the evolution of a magazine, possibly a scientific or geographical publication, with a notable focus on its transformation and growing appeal over time. Let's break down the key concepts discussed:

Founding and Academic Origins:
- The magazine was initially a "little booklet" and started as an "academic journal."
- Its primary purpose was to keep the founders and the scientific community updated on scientific discoveries about the world.
Evolution and Expansion:
- Over time, the magazine underwent a significant transformation.
- It expanded its coverage beyond geography to include people, cultures, artifacts, climate, space, and science.
- The goal was to encompass the diverse developments occurring worldwide.
Broadened Audience Appeal:
- To appeal to a larger audience, the magazine adopted various strategies.
- It incorporated pictures, map data, and became more accessible to a broader readership.
- The shift included catering to a less highbrow audience, making it more of a popular magazine.
Post-World War II Growth:
- The magazine experienced significant growth, particularly after the Second World War.
- The 1950s and 1960s were pivotal, with a substantial boom in the 1960s.
- American families showed great interest in having the magazine as a household journal.
Appeal to Children:
- A crucial aspect of the magazine's success was its appeal to children.
- The inclusion of pictures, maps, and readable content aimed to engage young readers.
- Even if children couldn't read the articles, they could still learn from visuals and captions.
Circulation Milestone:
- By the mid-1980s, the magazine achieved remarkable success, boasting a circulation of over 10 million copies.
- This indicates the widespread popularity and influence the magazine had attained.

In conclusion, the provided excerpt offers insights into the dynamic history and strategic adaptations of a scientific or geographical magazine, showcasing its journey from an academic journal to a widely appealing and influential publication.