16 July
National Journal, the Washington-based political news outlet owned by Atlantic Media, announced Thursday that it will suspend its weekly magazine later this year, bringing an end to its 46-year run in print.
David Bradley, chairman of Atlantic Media, took full responsibility for the decision, attributing it to his own failure of leadership.
"News in Washington now moves too quickly for a weekly publication," Bradley wrote in a memo to staff. But "the more-personal statement," he said, "is that, as to the magazine, I believe I failed."
"A few years back ... distracted from National Journal’s work, I took both my eyes and hands off the task," he wrote. "In the long run, I don’t think a weekly print magazine can thrive. Still, had I not failed for a time in my role, I think National Journal might have prospered longer."
Bradley told staff that National Journal would now move "the whole of its journalism to the higher-velocity work of our daily publications, National Journal Daily and Hotline, and to our hour-by-hour coverage on NationalJournal.com."
As part of the move, National Journal will be forced to reduce staff, though Bradley said he was "not drawn ... to proposing layoffs" and said the company "will do our best to help each person stay in place, or be reassigned, or transition to a new employer."
