Nat Geo Sells Out

Does anyone else remember Firesign Theater? Don’t Crush That Dwarf; Hand Me the Pliers?

Announcer: So here’s your last deal Ms. Presky.  Now… which would would you rather do…..hit this dude over the head with a bag of sugar …or beat out that rythym on the drums…

Mrs. Presky: Er….ahhhhh….I’ll take the bag!

Announcer: You mean your gonna trade this four foot cube of 18 carrot Swiss Boullion …… and the snake knives, Mrs. Presky ……..all for that little bag …

Mrs. Presky: Yes!

Announcer: Well all right!! Open it up!

:Mrs. Presky: Why…why this is just a bag of shit.

Announcer: But it’s really great shit, Mrs Presky.

But it’s still just a bag of crap. And that’s what National Geographic’s explanation of why it has sold its media division to Rupert Murdoch amounts to: a bag of crap.

When WC heard that Nat Geo had sold its 118 year old magazine to Satan, a/k/a Rupert Murdoch, WC’s first reaction was that another Onion story hadn’t been confused with fact. But it turns out to be true. In exchange for $725 million, the National Geographic Society shilled its signature magazine and its book, map and other media assets to a partnership headed by 21st Century Fox, the Murdoch-controlled company that owns the 20th Century Fox movie studio, the Fox television network and Fox News Channel.

WC feels nauseous just thinking about it.

For a would-be nature photographer, National Geographic has always been the hallmark, the touchstone. Some of the photographer that WC admires the most work there. And now they work for Fox News.

WC will be writing to National Geographic to cancel his subscription and demand a refund. WC signed up for the best nature photography and honest science. Not for a pretty version of Fox News. Not to a Rupert Murdoch. climate-change denying rag.

They got $725 million for the assets. WC wonders what price they got for their credibility?