The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which is remaking itself as a modern media company, made its return to the city of Atlanta in the most traditional way — with an old-fashioned ribbon cutting.
Dozens of business, civic and cultural leaders joined AJC President and Publisher Andrew Morse; Editor Leroy Chapman; Cox Enterprises Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alex Taylor; and the staff of the paper for an official grand-opening ceremony for the paper’s new headquarters at 1200 Peachtree St. in Midtown.
Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez
Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez
“We thought it was really important for our newsroom and our people to be in the heart of the city that we cover,” Morse said. “And to be here is not just about having a nice office, it’s about the city and the people. This is where the AJC belongs in the heart of this great city.”
Last November, after a 14-year hiatus in the northern suburbs, the AJC returned to the city, settling in Midtown. The roughly 21,000-square-foot office, which bears the AJC’s masthead on the outside, was a pivotal move for Georgia’s newspaper of record.
Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez
Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez
The news organization announced last February it would move to the space near the Woodruff Arts Center and Colony Square.
The AJC and its predecessors — the Atlanta Constitution and Atlanta Journal — operated its newsrooms in several downtown Atlanta locations for 140 years. The AJC moved from its location at 72 Marietta St. after the Great Recession, opting to relocate to Dunwoody near the campus of its parent company, Cox Enterprises. The Marietta Street building was donated to the city in 2010.
Credit: Bill Mahan
Credit: Bill Mahan
The AJC most recently had its offices on the Cox campus.
“In my mind we’re not here to celebrate real estate or a new address,” said Taylor, who started his career at the AJC working out of the old 72 Marietta St. building. “The reason we are all here is that we’re in support of something that’s very important to our community. We’re here to support journalism and the trade of free thoughts and speech. What the AJC is all about is being that place where every idea can come and be heard. That is what our community is all about and it’s really what America is all about.”
Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez
Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez
Morse has set a goal to grow AJC digital subscribers to 500,000 by the end of 2026. The AJC has added journalists to the newsroom, including staff in cities around Georgia, and is launching new products dedicated to sports, Black culture, food and politics, as well as investments in both audio and video programming.
“One of the unique things about Atlanta is the fact that there is an abundant supply of goodwill,” Chapman said. “We live in difficult times, but one of the things that the AJC is committed to is to make sure that we honor our journalism history and that we bring truth and clarity to our community so we can get down to solving these problems.”
At the end of the ribbon cutting, attendees toured the new offices. Morse pointed out a large photo of Gov. James Cox, the founder of the newspaper, walking with former President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
“There’s a quote on it ... which I love, where he says, ‘We must never turn back the hands of the clock. We must always go forward,” Morse said. “That quote is something that has stuck with me since I started in this role two years ago and it really embodies the spirit of not just Cox Enterprises, but the AJC as well. We are thrilled to be here at the new headquarters of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution at 1200 Peachtree St.”
