National Geographic Society

The nonprofit National Geographic Society funds exploration and education initiatives. The magazine will carry notes to acknowledge grant funding for stories. A contributor page highlights grant-funded writers and photographers. Other grant recipients are identified as a National Geographic Explorer in editorial coverage (uppercase Explorer is used regardless of placement).  

Alexander Graham Bell Legacy Society: Members are referred to as “Alexander Graham Bell Legacy Society members.”

Base Camp: Refers to the Society’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Committee for Research and Exploration: “CRE” acceptable on second reference.

Eliza Scidmore Award for Outstanding Storytelling: “Eliza Scidmore Award” acceptable on second reference.

Exploration Technology Lab

Fulbright-National Geographic Award: Recipients are referred to as “Fulbright-National Geographic Award recipients” and are also National Geographic Explorers.

Hubbard Medal: The Society’s highest honor.

National Geographic/Buffett Awards for Leadership in Conservation: Recipients are referred to as “recipient of the National Geographic/Buffet Award for Leadership in Conservation.”

National Geographic Expeditions: Uppercase when referring to the National Geographic-branded travel business operated by Disney. Any other reference to “expeditions” should be lowercase, unless part of a formal title (e.g. Perpetual Planet Expeditions).

National Geographic Explorer: Always capitalize when referring to an individual who has received a grant from the Society. Always use “National Geographic Explorer” on first reference. On subsequent references, “Explorer” is acceptable. “Nat Geo Explorer” and “#NatGeoExplorer” allowed on social media. We no longer use “National Geographic Society Explorer,” “Grantee” or “Fellow.” (See subsequent entries on National Geographic Explorer at Large, National Geographic Explorer in Residence and National Geographic Young Explorer.)

National Geographic Explorer at Large: No hyphens. On subsequent references, Explorer at Large is acceptable. The current Explorers at Large are:

●      Azu Nwagbogu

●      Beverly Joubert

●      Bob Ballard

●      Derek Joubert

●      James Cameron

●      Louise Leakey

●      Maya Lin

●      Rodrigo Medellin

●      Shahidul Alam

●      Sylvia Earle

National Geographic Explorer in Residence: No hyphens. On subsequent references, “Explorer in Residence” is allowed. The current Explorers in Residence are Enric Sala and Lee Berger.

National Geographic Explorers Festival: “Explorers Festival” is allowed on first reference for audiences who are familiar with the annual event. “Explorers Symposium” refers to the main-stage programming, and is part of Explorers Festival.

National Geographic Live: “Nat Geo Live” acceptable on second reference or when there are length considerations. Avoid “NG Live."

National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project: “NGOWP” is an acceptable acronym on second reference. 

National Geographic Photo Ark: Photo Ark is acceptable on second reference.

National Geographic Photo Camp: Photo Camp acceptable on second reference. Photo Camp participants are called “students” and referred to by the specific Photo Camp they participated in (Photo Camp Juchitan student First Last).

National Geographic Planetary Leadership Award: Planetary Leadership Award acceptable on second reference.

National Geographic Pristine Seas: Pristine Seas is acceptable on second reference.

National Geographic Society: Use the full name on first reference. On subsequent references, the Society may be used. Avoid NG, Nat Geo Society, or the Geographic in external-facing communications.

National Geographic Society Board of Trustees: On subsequent reference, board of trustees or board is acceptable.

National Geographic Young Explorer: On subsequent references, Young Explorer may be used.

NGS: Sometimes used in magazine credits. 

National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Expeditions: Not interchangeable with “Perpetual Planet,” which is a Rolex initiative that includes projects outside of the Society. If referring to one system within the project, include the type of system (e.g., National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Mountain Expeditions). If referring to a specific expedition, include the location (e.g., National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Amazon Expedition).

Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year award: Recipients are known as the “Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year.” Avoid the general "Explorer of the Year.”

Slingshot Challenge: Supported by the National Geographic Society and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

Storytellers Summit: Not Storytelling Summit.

Wayfinder Award recipient: Never just Wayfinder. The term Emerging Explorer should no longer be used.