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American Morning

Interview of 'National Geographic' Editor-in-Chief Bill Allen on New Collection of Photographs

Aired November 06, 2001 - 11:41   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: For the first time, "National Geographic," the magazine, is putting out a large-format issue filled with the 100 best photographs ever. On the cover, a haunting of a 12- year-old girl in Afghanistan taken back in 1984. Editors chose the cover well before the event of September 11, but it speaks appropriately, certainly, for the times today.

Bill Allen, editor-in-chief of "National Geographic," is live with us this morning, from Washington.

Bill, good morning to you.

BILL ALLEN, "NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC": Good morning, Bill.

HEMMER: I want it apologize in advance if we get interrupted by the president at the White House; we expect comments momentarily.

It's been my favorite photo for five years, and I will tell you why. In 1996, I believe, you put out a holiday issue, a stack of photos put out, a coffee-table book, and this woman's face was on the cover. What kind of reaction are you getting from this?

ALLEN: Bill, it has been extraordinary. No photograph in the history of "National Geographic" has ever generated the kind of interest that this one has. People see all sorts of things in that picture. They wanted to adopt her, to marry her. Never a day goes by that we don't get something or Steve McCurry doesn't get some comment about her.

HEMMER: She was living in a refugee camp, is that right?

ALLEN: Yes, back in 1984, when Steve McCurry photographed her, she was in a refugee camp, as a 12-year-old. He has been back ten times since then trying to find her, to no avail.

HEMMER: That was the thing; I didn't mean to interrupt or step over you, but the fact has been that you have gone out looking for her, and the efforts, to this point, have been unsuccessful.

As we look back, Bill, in the mirror of history, how appropriate is it that this young woman, a refugee at the time, 17 years ago, now gracing your covers in the light of events of 9/11 and since then, with the military campaign underway? ALLEN: It is one of those things that really captures the entire world. You cannot look at those eyes, those haunted eyes, without feeling the pain that she must have gone through -- far too young to be enduring something like this. I think it really captures what we're going through right now and what the whole world is facing in the threat of terrorism.

HEMMER: The presidents are coming out, and with that I must apologize, Bill -- Bill Allen, from "National Geographic" magazine, my apologies. We'll get back to that in a moment.

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