Just in case you live under a rock/have time traveled to the present day from pre-1888/are a three-year old toddler, National Geographic is "one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational institutions in the world" with interests in "geography, archaeology, natural science, and environmental and historical conservation." Its iconic yellow border and dramatic photographs have made it one of the most recognizable publications in the world, and whether you know it or not, you've definitely seen one of their famous front covers before.
From its founding in 1888, National Geographic has prided itself on its wide range of topics, from deforestation to foreign conflicts, past civilizations to modern day issues. Recently, it has become more focused on environmental problems, now covering things like chemical pollution, global warming, and endangered species.
This topic was near to my heart since, as a student journalist, I have always admired magazines, newspapers, and other publications more than the typical high school student or young adult. One thing that I've always realized is that magazines like National Geographic and free press in general is what really makes a country free. People are controlled by the media, whether they like it or not -- for some, it's social media like Facebook and Twitter; for others, more traditional news sources like CNN or Fox News. Media controls what we consider to be important in our society, and with the continuation of amazing magazines like National Geographic, we will hopefully keep our priorities straight for many more years.