Editor’s note: Maybe it’s a way to make ourselves feel better about out less-than-astronomical traffic figures, but our editorial philosophy at Global Atlanta is less about chasing viral topics and more about serving our most dedicated readers (mainly our email newsletter subscribers) with what they need to know about Atlanta’s international scene.
We aren’t afraid of controversies that would drive more activity on our site, but we don’t seek it out for its own sake, and indeed see our role at times to provide a salve to the constant barrage of negative stories about the engagement between the U.S. and the world.
By illuminating globally impactful stories in the reader’s backyard, we hope to show that there is promise as well as peril resulting from this intersection. That’s part of our professed bias as a publication that believes “The world is here,” but also that we have to adjust our focus locally to see it sometimes.
As editors, we want to be content dietitians, providing a sweet treat every now and then, but only as a reward for consuming the essential stories on global investment, trade, economic development and diplomacy that make up our bread-and-butter (too many food references?)
News publications are constantly asked to justify their existence by the number of eyeballs they serve to advertisers, and in this landscape it’s tempting to indulge the wants of those out in the world who would juice our analytics without providing actionable content to those already in the fold. The emergence of the “Jobs” category as the No. 2 traffic source behind “Articles” is evidence that people seek content that can help them make a living.
We hope the list below shows that we have been able to balance the imperatives of insight and interest, serving readers near and far in the process:
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SK Battery Plant: $5B Georgia Investment at Stake in Potential Closure
The SK Battery plant in Jackson County — Georgia’s largest-ever foreign investment — is one of the biggest stories of the 21st century for Georgia, but it has faced challenges from the get-go, including setbacks stemming from immigration compliance issues.Naturally, readers were interested when it was threatened with closure during a trade-secrets battle with rival LG. When 2021 dawned, Georgia’s two new U.S. senators got involved. Ultimately the Korean firms reached a $1.8 billion detente before both announcing even deeper investments in the U.S. during a visit by Korean President Moon Jae-in, who took time out of his schedule to visit the Commerce plant. -
Examining How K-pop Helps Drive Korea’s Global Growth
In this online event run by Global Atlanta and sponsored by the Consulate General of Korea, experts outlined the way K-Pop’s popularity serves Korea’s economic and soft-power interests. The article above will also appear in a middle-school social studies textbook.
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LEGO Love Nets Legendary UGA Kicker Blankenship Recognition from Danish Consulate
The UGA great and current Indianapolis Colts star received an honor doled out by Danish Honorary Consul Christopher Smith, a Georgia alum who practices law in Macon.
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German Christmas Market Returns from Pandemic Hiatus With New Buckhead Location
Once again, our annual outline of changes to the Atlanta Christkindl Market, which moved to its third location in six years, cracked the top-10 for 2021 despite being published toward the end of the year. For more information about the German-American Cultural Foundation, which operates the market, read this story: Pillars of German Community Honored for Decades of Service
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Atlanta Ranked Top U.S. Tech Hub, No. 8 Global Startup Ecosystem
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Japan-Owned Tool Maker Makita Breaks Ground on 80-Acre Hall County Site
This story was a followup to an announcement about the company’s purchase of the land, which many speculated would become a new headquarters for a firm that has long had a presence in Hall and Gwinnett counties.
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Atlanta Officially Named ‘French Tech’ Hub, Raising Prospects for Investment Collaboration
As if to accentuate this announcement, Paris-based restaurant tech firm Sunday.com sent a co-founder to replant roots in Atlanta and run North America from here. The company has since rasied another $100 million.
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British Answering Service Opens New Gwinnett Headquarters
Moneypenny is placing a premium on the employee experience at its new digs.
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Austrian Firm to Invest $9 Million in Newnan, Hiring 70 at Americas Headquarters
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Fresh Off UN Ambassadorship, Canada’s Louise Blais Returns to Her Old Job as Consul General in Atlanta
Ms. Blais returned for a six-month stint and left at the end of this year.
Honorable mention: Uncertain Skies
A major theme of the year’s popular stories was the return of air travel, specifically the prospects for international flights taking to the skies. Before he took off to a new job in Saudi Arabia, we heard former Hartsfield-Jackson General Manager John Selden’s views, which squared with Delta CEO Ed Bastian’s caution that international and business passengers would be the “last step” on the industry’s road to recovery. In August, we caught up with new ATL General Manager Balram Bheodari, who was confident both categories would return in due time. Mr. Bheodari was recently present at the opening of Copa Airlines’ new flight to Atlanta.
Honorable mention: Belgian Princess
Global Atlanta was among the first to report that Belgium’s Princess Astrid would lead a huge delegation to the city in October, though the trip was postponed until this June as the Delta variant upended air traffic last fall.