'National Geographic' Acknowledges History of Racist Coverage In the magazine's upcoming 2018 issue, they did a deep dive into race in both the outside world and in the magazine itself. They hired John Edwin Mason, a professor with a background in the history of Africa and the history of photography, to look over 'Nat Geo's' history. Susan Goldberg, Editor-in-chief of National Geographic Susan Goldberg, Editor-in-chief of National Geographic According to Goldberg, they felt is was important to examine the magazine's own history with race before examining others. Susan Goldberg, Editor-in-chief of National Geographic