In a letter to New Republic readers, CEO Guy Vidra talks about his vision for the publication. Vidra and New Republic owner Chris Hughes removed Franklin Foer as editor of the publication last week, and many staffers resigned in protest.
Before a press tour Monday, Vidra and Hughes had mostly expressed their plan for the publication with jargon like “vertically integrated digital media company.”
In his post, Vidra notes he “started my career in journalism” and says “I firmly believe that those who say that this publication was only ever meant to reach a small audience are wrong.” He praises the magazine’s past accomplishments, including its “an unparalleled back of the book,” and promises to provide “depth.”
But: “we will begin to tell our stories more effectively in other ways,” he writes.
When we spend the time and energy to do a longform piece, we will create formats for our readers to engage with that information outside of print. We will use data to let readers immerse themselves in that story. We will use imagery and video to evoke a reaction as visceral as only those mediums can bring.
TNR will “add to our masthead and bring on a great and diverse set of writers and editors,” Vidra writes. It will also “invest in product managers, engineers, designers, data visualization and multimedia editors.” And:
We will build a platform that lets us create unique and compelling experiences on our web site and on mobile platforms, as well as the means to reach audiences outside our walls.
Related: My interview with Vidra Monday
