The Day The Earth Moved

Both as a current Washingtonian and a former Bostonian, and as one of the first people who worked in the Atlantic’s D.C. bureau in 2002, the news that The Atlantic Monthly will be relocating is earth-shattering news. Make no mistake, the business sense behind it is clear–David Bradley isn’t known for making the wrong move.

For literary and academic Bostonians (of which there are many), this is akin to word that Fenway Park might just be plopped down somewhere in Kentucky.

Thus if you read only one article on the move, read the hometown paper’s version of watching one of Boston’s most famous institutions. The Atlantic offices in Boston on North Washington Street are rich and dark, befitting of a magazine with the almost crushing sense of history that the Atlantic carries–correspondence and articles from the magazine’s famed contributors as well as a pile of ellies decorate the walls. But not for much longer.

The short version of the story is that Bradley has decided to consolidate the Atlantic’s small editorial staff here, where he first launched a think tank-like bureau in 2002, and where the rest of the Atlantic Media properties (National Journal, Hotline, Government Executive, etc.) are based at the Watergate. After years of work, Bradley is still trying to figure out how to make the magazine profitable.

The other half of the news is that, in the process, the Atlantic will lose Cullen Murphy, the second of the two visionary editors who helped turn around the publication around in the last decade. Michael Kelly, you might remember, died while covering the war in Iraq.

We’ve long said that working at the Atlantic was the best job we ever held, and David Bradley is certainly one of the most brillant, visionary, and benevolent people we’ve ever come across, and so if he says this is the right move, we trust him at his word. But make no mistake though.

This is gi-normous–almost as big as move as his subtle dropping of the word “Monthly” from the magazine’s title. (No really, we mean that — go back over the last three years and watch “Monthly” get smaller and smaller until it completely disappeared from the cover. It’s been just the Atlantic for quite a while. Our guess? The Atlantic Monthly won’t be “monthly” for much longer.

The complete Atlantic statement on the move is after the jump.

Statement regarding Atlantic Monthly

The Atlantic Monthly magazine management announced to its staff today a gradual shift of most editorial functions from Boston to Washington, D.C. Though not immediate, the transfer of the majority of its three-dozen Boston positions will be accomplished across the next year.

The Atlantic Monthly has enjoyed a storied and incomparable success in Boston since its founding there in 1857. The reason for its move now is both economic and editorial, according to management sources. With a staff of only 37, the Boston office has proved a difficult size to sustain.

In Washington, the Atlantic Monthly staff will be joined to the 160 editors, reporters and designers serving its sister publications, the National Journal, Government Executive, The Hotline and CongressDaily. The parent company, Atlantic Media, is owned by Washington entrepreneur David Bradley and housed in the Watergate offices.

“I see no happy news in today’s decision,” commented owner Bradley. “Not for Boston. Deeply not for our very committed staff.”

The problem, according to Bradley, is that there are two great traditions at
issue: continuing to publish the Atlantic Monthly in Boston and continuing to publish the Atlantic Monthly at all. “Perhaps a better leader could do both,” admitted Bradley. “In the moment, I’m simply focusing, largely optimistic, on the latter.”

With today’s action, Atlantic Monthly managing editor Cullen Murphy announced his interest in managing the Atlantic Monthly through its transition to Washington and resigning from any senior editorial role thereafter. Murphy’s decision, wholly voluntary and initially a surprise to Atlantic management, is animated by his decision to complete a book under contract and step back from the editing duties he has carried for the Atlantic Monthly for twenty years.

Atlantic Media owner, Bradley, characterized Murphy’s decision as “a large loss.” “Cullen is supremely talented, universally loved. As to talent and
character, in equal part, Cullen is a once-in-a-species phenomenon.”

The Atlantic Monthly will begin an outside search for a new editor.

All Boston employees have been offered positions, at the same pay, in Atlantic Media’s Washington offices. For those electing to remain in Boston, the Atlantic Monthly is providing a minimum of one year’s continuing salary.

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