Washington, U.S.A. — In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, each copy of the January 2013 issue will feature five covers highlighting the Society’s 125th anniversary theme, “A New Age of Exploration.” The multiple covers will be included in the worldwide English-language edition and in 12 local-language editions and are exclusively supported by Rolex. These editions are read by more than 50 million people around the globe.

The January covers highlight the superlatives of exploration — farthest, wildest, smallest, highest and deepest. The top cover spotlights the farthest reaches of space travel as it looks at ”Why We Explore. “The four additional covers profile other ways exploration is being pushed to the limits: The Wildest focuses on saving Ecuador’s pristine rain forest; the Smallest looks at the invisible world of microbes; the Highest features mountaineer Cory Richards; and the Deepest highlights filmmaker James Cameron’s solo dive to the Mariana Trench.

The “New Age of Exploration” theme will be marked Society-wide throughout 2013, including the National Geographic Channels, website, books, magazines, video and live events. The yearlong initiative has been made possible through a 125th anniversary partnership with Rolex.

National Geographic Channels will premiere a 125th anniversary special, “A New Age of Exploration: National Geographic at 125,” on Friday, January 11, in the United States and globally throughout the month. The program profiles the new superheroes of exploration — amazing people who are forging new ground as they square off against the latest frontiers. National Geographic Channels will dedicate more than 125 hours of programming to the theme of exploration throughout the year in its “Explorer Top 125″ programming event.

A dynamic online hub at www.nationalgeographic.com/125 will include special features such as an interactive exploration timeline, videos, interviews and photo galleries updated regularly during the Society’s 12-month focus on the future of exploration.

On June 13, 2013, the 125th anniversary will be celebrated at a “National Geographic Evening of Exploration” gala, where the Society’s top medals and honors will be awarded to explorers and other recipients. All proceeds from the gala will go to National Geographic’s Fund for Exploration.

“For 125 years, National Geographic has been at the forefront of discovery, driven by a passion and purpose to explore and illuminate the world. And there is so much more to know to help us reimagine not only our world but our place in it,” said Claudia Malley, executive vice president and worldwide publisher, National Geographic Global Media. “I can think of no better partner than Rolex, which is at the forefront of innovation and exploration, to join us in this quest.”

“With its shared passion for exploration, Rolex is delighted to partner with National Geographic on its 125th anniversary initiative. For decades, Rolex has supported pioneers of exploration, from the tallest mountain to the deepest ocean trench, and we look forward to being there, wherever man dares to venture next,” said Arnaud Boetsch, communications & image manager of Rolex SA.

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Melville, U.S.A. — On October 24, Nikon announced the launch of “The Full Story” contest, offering participants the chance to win an exclusive photo expedition with National Geographic Traveler magazine contributing editor and Digital Nomad Andrew Evans, best known for his online chronicling of his adventures exploring the world.

Five first-prize winners will receive the new FX-format Nikon D600 D-SLR camera, and one lucky grand-prize winner selected from the first-prize winners will travel alongside Evans to the Galapagos where they will contribute to the Digital Nomad blog on NationalGeographic.com.

“The Full Story” contest is the latest program created by Nikon to inspire budding photojournalists to convey their stories through imagery. The contest will invite passionate shooters to submit one photo and an accompanying paragraph about someone or something that is meaningful to them and they think will be compelling to others. The subject of the photo could be anything from a loved one or a hometown to a personal passion. Participants will also have the opportunity to submit three unrelated photos that best showcase their photography talent.

“Nikon is thrilled to partner with National Geographic for this program; they are one of the world’s leading brands and are known for their exceptionally illustrative storytelling through stunning imagery and compelling reporting,” said Lisa Baxt, Senior Communications Manager for Nikon “This program is all about communicating through images, and the new D600 D-SLR is the ideal tool for the photo enthusiast, designed to deliver the image quality and performance benefits needed to make visual storytelling a full-time passion.”

Consumers can enter at www.nationalgeographic.com/nikon from now through November 25, 2012. The contest judges will then select five first-prize winners, who will be sent a Nikon D600 to shoot their “Full Story” between December 17, 2012 and January 7, 2013. A grand-prize winner will be selected from among the five first-prize winners and will be announced on January 25, 2013. The grand-prize winner will then accompany National Geographic Traveler’s Andrew Evans on a National Geographic Expedition to the Galapagos Islands aboard the National Geographic Endeavour to photograph the rich ecosystems and contribute to the Digital Nomad blog.

As National Geographic’s Digital Nomad, Evans travels the world, sharing his experiences  on NationalGeographic.com’s Digital Nomad blog, his Twitter feed @WheresAndrew and his Where’s Andrew Facebook page.

“The Full Story” program is an opportunity to provide enthusiasts with the appropriate tools they need to effectively tell their stories; the D600 is an ideal fit for such an assignment as it offers photographers the versatility to shoot amazing, sharp imagery, with ample resolution to tackle almost any project while in the field.

The Nikon D600 features a 24.3-megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor and EXPEED 3 image processing engine that helps capture great details with stunning clarity, in both still photos and Full HD (1080p) video. The camera is capable of bursts of images at 5.5 frames per second (fps) at full resolution with full AF, to capture decisive moments. Additionally, Nikon’s new optional WU-1b wireless adapter allows photographers to shoot high quality images and transfer them to their mobile device, making it easier to stay connected, without the need for wires.

Eligibility:  Legal residents of the 50 United States and Washington, D.C. 21 years and older are eligible to participate.  Professional photographers are not eligible to participate. For official rules, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/nikon.

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Los Angeles, U.S.A — When darkness falls, our eyesight fails us and our imaginations run wild. In the US premiere of the Discovery Channel/BBC/Terra Mater Factual Studios co-production “The Dark”, airing Saturday, October 27 at 9PM ET/PT, one group of brave individuals faces the most primal of human fears, fear of the dark, and utilizes technology to unveil the world after dark and shed light on the riveting nighttime dramas of some remarkable animals such as jaguars, pumas, owl monkeys, and vampire bats.

A team comprised of biologists, wildlife experts, and specialist camera crews venture into Central and South America armed with thermal imaging, infrared cameras, and a fierce determination to unravel the mystery of what life is like after dark for the majority of animals who are nocturnal.

The team’s filming technology allows them to capture natural behavior without disturbing the wildlife, even in pitch black conditions, and throughout the course of their six-month expedition they will have to become creatures of the night themselves. They will wade through crocodile-filled rivers, brave shark-infested waters, discover bizarre creatures and witness never-before-seen behaviors, and come face-to-face with predators in some uncomfortably close encounters.

The resulting footage is exhilarating, immersive, and provides viewers a completely new perspective on wildlife at night. This is a hair-raising view humans have rarely been able to witness…until now. “The Dark” premieres Saturday, October 27 at 9PM ET/PT.

“The Dark” is a Discovery Channel/BBC/Terra Mater Factual Studios co-production. For BBC, Tim Martin is executive producer; Jonny Keeling is series producer; Rowan Musgrave, Susanna Handslip, and Will Ridgeon are the director/producers. For Discovery Channel, James Manfull is writer and executive producer with Meghan Keener; Christine Weber is vice president of production.

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On March 27, USA TODAY and National Geographic Channel kick off an editorial partnership with a series of jointly-produced reports to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. A cover story in USA TODAY looks at why we are still obsessed with Titanic, 100 years later.

A special USA TODAY/National Geographic Channel tabloid edition, ‘Titanic – 100 Years Later’, hit newsstands Monday. The special edition can also be ordered online at http://service.usatoday.com/specialeditions. The tabloid edition includes:

• Our Titanic obsession – Little stories from the sinking of the world’s largest ship 100 years ago make up the grand legend that continues to hold interest for the public today.
• Remembering April 15, 1912 – From museum exhibits to re-creations of the last meal served onboard to commemorative teddy bears based on one that survived, the Titanic anniversary will be marked in many ways.
• Titanic timeline – A graphic look at Titanic’s only voyage, its shortage of lifeboats, and treasures that were recovered from its final resting place.
• How Titanic became an epic – A look at the 1997 movie, being re-released in 3-D on April 4th, including stories on the stars of the movie and its signature song, My Heart Will Go On.
• Plotting the wreck’s future – National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Robert Ballard, who found Titanic’s resting place, is calling for efforts to preserve not only Titanic but other historic areas.

Additional USA TODAY coverage the week of April 2nd will include:

• A Life section cover story on Titanic in 3-D, featuring an interview with director James Cameron. A trailer of the movie will accompany the story on USATODAY.com.
• A cover story that looks at whether we should raise the Titanic, featuring an interview with Robert Ballard. A video interview will accompany the story on USATODAY.com.
• An interactive graphic on USATODAY.com that will poll readers on whether the Titanic and its contents should remain at the bottom of the ocean or be raised and salvaged for museum collections.

National Geographic Channel marks the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic with a two-night world premiere event April 8-9. Details below:

• In ‘Titanic: The Final Word’ with James Cameron, premiering Sunday, April 8, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, the Oscar-winning filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer-In-Residence leads the ultimate cold-case investigation into the tragedy. In 1997, Cameron brought the iconic ship to life in his blockbuster feature film “Titanic,” which fueled not only the world’s fascination with the shipwreck, but also his own:  ”I wanted to dive the wreck more than I wanted to make the movie,” he explains. ”Diving the wreck was my way into the story.”
• Then, the next night, on Monday, April 9, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, the man who discovered the ship’s final resting place more than 25 years ago is on a new quest: protect Titanic’s massive underwater graveyard. In ‘Save the Titanic’ with Bob Ballard, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Robert Ballard retraces Titanic’s beginnings and examines the ship’s original plans — never before filmed— to reveal untold stories of Titanic’s heroes and the unwritten story of Titanic’s future.

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With tsunamis, earthquakes and financial concerns dominating the headlines over the past year, National Geographic Channel and Kelton Research on February 7 released the results of a survey gauging Americans’ preparedness levels and mind-set related to a potential “Doomsday” scenario.

Most Americans are fearful of catastrophes, yet are poorly prepared, according to the new survey.  Eighty-five percent of the nation is not ready for a devastating event, blame the recession for their unpreparedness and are more fearful of a man-made catastrophe if a Republican wins the presidential election.

This comes as NGC launches its new series Doomsday Preppers focusing on Americans with an unshakable certainty that America soon faces tougher times – when grocery stores are empty, water is in short supply and electricity is unavailable – and are stockpiling for survival.

In the survey of more than 1,000 men and women conducted online from January 3 to January 10 with a 3.1 percent margin of error, the question was asked, “Which of the following, if any, do you think might happen in the United States in the next 25 years?”  Earthquakes (64%), hurricanes (63%) and terrorism (55%) are the most feared, followed by financial collapse (51%), significant blackout (37%), a pandemic (29%) and nuclear fallout (14%).

Regardless of the incident, more than 62 percent Americans think the world will experience a major catastrophe in less than 20 years.  And nearly three out of every four people (71%) envision a major disaster in their lifetime as an act of God, not man.  Nearly one-third (27%) believe that the Mayan calendar’s prediction about a calamitous event in December 2012 will be at least “somewhat true.”

“The results demonstrate that in a disastrous scenario most people are unprepared,” says Scott Hunt, co-owner and engineer with Practical Preppers, a firm specializing in emergency preparedness.  “You need to take a practical approach to preparedness so that in a crisis situation you are not part of the problem, but the solution.  I hope more people feel compelled to start looking at this seriously and take solid steps to be ready.”

With the presidential election this November, politics also factored into the results, with more than half of the nation (52%) believing that if Mitt Romney or one of his Republican counterparts overtake Barack Obama, a man-made catastrophe is more likely.

Among those who feel unprepared, 40 percent cite the lasting effects of the recession as the reason for their unpreparedness.  But the same number (40%) is saying “to hell with a 401(k)” to save money for catastrophe arrangements.  Nearly half (49%) of Americans would forgo new high-end appliances in a new home if it had a safe room or bomb shelter instead.

Dr. Berger, senior lecturer on modern apocalyptic narratives at Yale University, expands on why Americans are straying away from such items for their homes:  ”If large numbers of people are to be protected from some natural or social disaster, there must be some public mechanisms put in place – for evacuations, food, water, medicine, etc., as well as proper infrastructure that will mitigate damage.”

While one in four Americans have done nothing to prepare, among those who have prepared, actions they have taken are very basic: 60 percent have stored canned food; 58 percent drinking water; and 56 percent batteries.  However, only 12 percent of the population has practiced drills, and 39 percent have learned basic survival skills.

Were “doomsday to arrive,” nearly four in 10 (39%) don’t think they would last two weeks based on the supplies they have on hand.

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National Geographic Channel President Howard T. Owens announced recently that the network has partnered with Tony and Ridley Scott to produce the two-hour documentary of Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever, Bill O’Reilly’s New York Times best-selling book with co-author Martin Dugard. Media personality Mike Rowe is also on board to be part of the project.

“National Geographic has a great legacy of telling some of history’s most riveting stories,” said author Bill O’Reilly, who will also serve as an executive producer on the documentary. ”The assassination of President Abraham Lincoln is no exception, as it continues to be one of the most significant, life-changing events in America’s young history.

Ridley and Tony Scott are incredible directors, producers and amazing storytellers with the ability to bring this story to life in a way no one else can.” The two-hour special event will capture the riveting narrative style and intimate detail used by O’Reilly in the book, which has reinvigorated the story of Lincoln, engrossing readers around the world.

Production on the historical thriller will begin this spring, combining rare historical archives, emotionally engaging storytelling and feature-film quality re-enactments with CGI in the signature style of the Scott brothers. The special will premiere in early 2013 globally on the National Geographic Channel.

“National Geographic Channel is the perfect partner for us to bring Bill O’Reilly’s dynamic ‘Killing Lincoln’ to the screen. We are excited to share with audiences this epic and thrilling story surrounding Lincoln’s assassination, one of the most notorious crimes in American history,” said Ridley Scott.

Said Rowe, “As a closet history buff for most of my life, this is what you might call a ‘dream project.’ It’s an honor to participate, and I’m grateful to National Geographic and the Scott brothers for the opportunity.” Additional details about his participation will be announced at a later date.

“There is so much to this story that Bill O’Reilly captures in his book that I know will captivate our audience,” said Owens. ”Using contemporary storytelling methods that are the hallmark of what the Scott brothers are known for will transform this popular best-seller into a global television event for our network.”

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