The New Yorker, America's representative weekly magazine, is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Since its first publication on February 21, 1925, it has maintained a reputation for its unique style that encompasses literature and journalism.
Editor-in-Chief David Remnick looks back on the history of the New Yorker and emphasizes the importance of maintaining its essence in changing times. The New Yorker started out as a magazine focused on light satire and humor, but gradually expanded its scope to include in-depth investigative reporting. It is also a place where some of the greatest writers of the time, including James Baldwin, JD Salinger, and Pauline Kael, have contributed.
The New Yorker has also changed politically. When it first started, it was a satirical piece on Manhattan’s upper-class, but now it has a liberal bent, with a focus on fact-based, in-depth reporting. Remnick said the New Yorker prioritizes thorough reporting and verification over ideology.
The fact-checking team reviews not only articles, but also cartoons, poems, and novels. Teresa Matthews cited a cartoon in which a penguin said, “We want to be called Arctic Americans,” which was not true because penguins live only in Antarctica. But the editors did not change the expression because they thought it was more humorous.
The New York Public Library is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the New Yorker with an exhibition. The New Yorker’s history is ongoing and future generations will continue the tradition.
