Oh, the masthead. It's the bizarre holy grail of magazine hierarchy. Editors, from the time they are mere interns, executive assistants, and EAs, dream that someday their names will loom over a sea of underthings.

The Atlantic, (formerly Atlantic Monthly) is, undoubtedly, no exception. Regarded by some as one of the top publications in the nation, working there is what young journos dream of their entire lives. Little boys reading the book reviews in Couriers and Heralds everywhere don't see their name in lights. They see their name in bold, on a masthead.

Recently, though, David Bradley decided to shake things up a bit. After his mag lost their EIC, Bradley pulled a Village Voice move, keeping the managing editor in an EIC role with no title change. Then that guy left, so … now they just don't have any masthead at all. (Except the one that's still online.)

The accompanying editorial changeover, however, is on a slower schedule. Rather than showcasing a rebuilt masthead, the current issue of The Atlantic includes no masthead at all.

The New Yorker doesn't have a masthead, which seems to work for them. But can you imagine if all the mastheads disappeared from Conde Nast magazines? Everyone would be, looking at people they weren't supposed to be looking at, answering e-mails from their senior editors, sitting at the wrong tables at lunch, eating omelets all over the place. It would just be utter, complete madness. And soo much fun to watch.

Atlantic Owner Hires New Team As If For Himself [Gabriel Sherman, NYO]