Pros
The Raddington Report assembled a truly remarkable roster of contributors — including former heads of state, ex-CIA and MI6 officials, and senior national security experts. Writing alongside (and often in support of) individuals with that level of experience was both humbling and professionally formative. The Report’s reach was global — one highlight being the Wall Street Journal’s July 27, 2017 publication of an article by F.W. de Klerk, former president of South Africa, titled “South Africa’s Great Reconciliation Is Coming Apart,” adapted directly from the original Raddington version. That level of recognition is rare and speaks volumes about the Report’s credibility and standards.
Cons
At times, in an effort to be inclusive, the platform brought on board young or untested analysts who were not ready for that level of responsibility. In some cases, this led to misaligned expectations — particularly around compensation — and in a few unfortunate instances, to disgruntled behavior or attempts to misrepresent the organization publicly. This did not reflect the reality of the publication or the caliber of its core contributors.