[Aztlan] National Geographic Magazine

[John B. Carlson]

I was contacted by a conscientious National Geographic Magazine 
researcher at about the same time and was asked some specific 
questions about Maya astronomy, calendar, and the caption for one 
specific photograph in particular. My conversation with the 
researcher indicated a sense of what I believe is the "tip of the 
iceberg" with the status of "research" and quality control at the 
venerable Magazine. It ain't the good ol' days anymore.

I replied with comments in writing, suggesting that the photo and its 
caption were quite wrong. The photo was a bad choice and a 
meaningless "throwaway" shot and the caption was wrong. When I got 
the issue, the photo was in and the misleading caption hadn't been 
changed. So... why did they bother asking?

John Carlson



At 4:12 PM -0500 7/23/07, David Stuart wrote:
>I was shown the preliminary text of this NG article about two months 
>ago, and was thoroughly appalled by what I read.  The editors said 
>it was too late to make major changes.  So why bother vetting it 
>with the people who know anything, I wonder?? It was like with 
>Apocalypto, when Mel Gibson decided to show me the rough cut here in 
>Austin only months before the release, and then wouldn't take 
>suggestions.
>
>It isn't surprising I guess, but it appears these large media 
>efforts in print or on screen -- and National Geographic is now a 
>media company more than anything else -- no longer really care much 
>what experts think or say.  They just want a "good story," truth or 
>fiction.
>
>DS
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