The Atlantic: A 160-YEAR TRADITION

The Atlantic(at-,ətˈlantik): A 160-YEAR TRADITION(trəˈdiSHən)

Since 1857, The Atlantic has been challenging assumptions(əˈsəm(p)SHən) and pursuing truth.

WHO WE ARE

As we reflect on our past and look toward the future—in a world where ideologically(ˈˌīdēəˈläjək(ə)lē, ˈˌidēəˈläjək(ə)lē) narrow(ˈnarō) or simple answers(ˈansər) are less adequate(ˈadikwit), and can even be more destructive(diˈstrəktiv), than ever—we decided to put to words a handful of ideas we thought represented(ˌrepriˈzent) authentic(ôˈTHentik) guiding commitments for us and to our audience(ˈôdēəns).

Look for the truth above looking for a story.
We know great storytelling(ˈstôrēˌteliNG) is part of great journalism(ˈjərnlˌizəm). But honest(ˈänist) reporting and analysis(əˈnaləsis), and the integrity(inˈteɡrədē) they represent, are what matter most to us, even if their pursuit requires giving up on an alluring(əˈlo͝oriNG) narrative(ˈnarətiv).

Continue to explore rather than imagining(iˈmajən) we’ve arrived.
Certainty can be comforting, but it can also get in the way of understanding. For us, the end of every story or argument should be the beginning of a conversation(ˌkänvərˈsāSHən), and the end of every conversation the beginning of another—or even another story or argument.

Go beyond what happens to what matters.
We see it as part of our job to help keep our audience up-to-date on the most important news and current(ˈkə-rənt,ˈkərənt) events across the United(yo͞oˈnīt) States and around the world. But the bigger part of our job is to work out—through reporting, argument, and debate(diˈbāt)—what that news means now, and what it could mean for the future.

Embrace(emˈbrās) a diversity(dəˈvərsədē, dīˈvərsədē) of perspectives(pərˈspektiv).
No story is ever complete(kəmˈplēt), no argument is ever perfect, and debates worth having tend to shift and turn more than they end. So we can never rely(riˈlī) on a single point of view, or even on a “balance” of two. Important ideas, observations(ˌäbzərˈvāSHən), points, and counterpoints can come from anywhere—from across the political(pəˈlitikəl) spectrum(ˈspektrəm)—so we have to look everywhere for them.

Immerse(iˈmərs) ourselves, and our audience, in the world—instead(inˈsted) of escaping(əˈskāp) from it.
People are connected today in ways they’ve never been before, through established(əˈstabliSHt) media, new media, social media, or otherwise. But these kinds of connection have also balkanized(ˈbôlkəˌnīz), filtered, alienated(ˈālyə-,ˈālēəˌnāt), and inspired(inˈspīrd) retreat(riˈtrēt)—into private(ˈprīvit) concerns, into entertainment(ˌentərˈtānmənt), into ideological comfort zones, and so on. We want to connect with the world by fully engaging(enˈgājiNG) with it, and with people who see it differently from how others see it.

Our hope is that these commitments orient(ˈôrēˌənt) us in a way that not only is genuine(ˈjenyo͞oin) for The Atlantic, but that helps us be as meaningful as possible to you in your life, and as good a force as possible for the world around us.

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https://www.theatlantic.com/history/