New Republic Editor-in-Chief Gabriel Snyder was officially brought on as the magazine’s chief weeks ago, but he’s been a little busy dealing with the aftermath of close to 50 reporters and editors resigning.
On Monday, he finally got around to writing his first editor’s note to readers, one that didn’t directly address the mass exodus of the magazine’s staff, but did preview he and NR CEO Guy Vidra’s vision for the magazine’s future.
Snyder — a former editor of The Atlantic Wire and Gawker — vowed to follow the founding principles of co-founder Herbert Croly, who a century ago described a magazine that would “represent progressive principles, but it is to be independent of any party, or individual in politics.”
But he also made clear the magazine would adapt to be more attractive to readers in the 21st century.
“But if our founders sat down today to settle on the best way to achieve this mission, they would not have picked a weekly printed magazine and ignored a vast array of digital publishing possibilities,” Snyder continued. “And just like any publication with hopes of success in the world of 2014, they would want The New Republic to be better at welcoming into our fold readers, writers, and editors who reflect the American experience as it exists today.”
Snyder, who replaced longtime editor Franklin Foer — whose ousting was the catalyst for the mass resignations of dozens of staffers in protest — also suggested the magazine would become more diverse.
“As we revive one proud legacy of The New Republic — the launching of new voices and experts — those new voices and experts will be diverse in race, gender, and background,” Snyder wrote. “As we build our editorial staff, we will reach out to talented journalists who might have previously felt unwelcome at The New Republic. If this publication is to be influential, and not merely survive, it can no longer afford to represent the views of one privileged class, nor appeal solely to a small demographic of political elites.”
As a result of the mass resignations at the beginning of the month, The New Republic canceled its magazine that was set to come out on Dec. 15. The next issue comes out on Feb. 2, 2015.