“Over the years, Mark has played more of an inside role and I have played more of an outside role in the magazine,” says Alter, who figures as a kind of public intellectual, appearing regularly on television—he has signed three contracts with NBC News since 1997—and working on a book about Franklin Roosevelt which is due out later this year.

Whitaker worked his way up the editorial ladder, starting as a business editor, then an assistant managing editor, next as managing editor and finally as editor.

Alter worked for seven years as a media critic at Newsweek, and his column on politics, government and social issues has run in the magazine about two out of every three weeks since 1991.

He also began, with a few colleagues, Newsweek’s popular “Conventional Wisdom Watch,” which ascribes up-and-down arrow judgments to the weekly news reports.

Gelber, who has worked with both her husband and Alter on projects, describes the Newsweek environment as “collegial,” citing Whitaker and Alter’s friendship as “strengthening that atmosphere.”

“Jon is a very honest, inquisitive person, and he never wants to do anything in the same old way,” she adds.

Alter says that he has sustained a lively career in journalism with this very thirst for news that Gelber points to.

“I think you have to be very curious for this kind of job,” he says. “I drive people crazy with the number of questions I ask,” he quips. “But you also have to recognize that you’re getting paid to further your education and learn something new and get paid for it.”

Alter sees the other perk of journalism as “an excuse to call up anyone in the world and ask them anything at all.”

“Some people say that we have a license to kill in journalism,” he quips. “But I see it as a license to satisfy our curiosity.”

—Staff writer Lauren A.E. Schuker can be reached at schuker@fas.harvard.edu.