Nat Geo’s Susan Goldberg on Creating a Picture of Diversity

National Geographic has kept pace as the country’s demographics rapidly shift and the cultural definition of immigrants, identity and families continues to evolve, having recently launched a year-long series dedicated to exploring “Diversity in America.” With national conversations on race, immigration and diversity front and center, Susan Goldberg (pictured below), Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Director, National Geographic Magazine and National Geographic Partners (pictured below), spoke with MediaVillage about why it was time to take stock of these issues and how that might be done.

In advance of speaking at the upcoming ANA Multicultural and Diversity Conference, she shared the magazine’s intent for the series, what surprised her about demographic changes in the U.S. and how brands and marketers can boost diversity in their ranks and in their work.

E. B. Moss: What inspiredNat Geoto take on a series about diversity in America?

Susan Goldberg: April 4, 2018 marked the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. It was a worthy moment to step back and take stock of where we are as a country on race and diversity, especially after events in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the ongoing, shameful use of racism as a political strategy. It’s also a conversation that is changing in real time: In 2020, for the first time in U.S. history, less than half the children in the nation will be white. We wanted to create a way for people to have a civil discussion about what is going on in hopes that knowledge can lead to more understanding. The April issue [of National Geographic magazine] launched a year of stories looking at “Diversity in America.”

Nat Geo’s Susan Goldberg on Creating a Picture of Diversity

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E.B. Moss