It’s not too uncommon for journals to include op-eds critical of the journal itself. Usually the author is responding to a previously published article (hence the “op”), but they can also criticize the journal’s practices or call for broader change in the industry.
It very well could be that he opposes The Atlantic’s practices and is using this op-ed to speak out against it.
Why would they allow that?
Bureaucracy is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural
Journalistic integrity.
It’s not too uncommon for journals to include op-eds critical of the journal itself. Usually the author is responding to a previously published article (hence the “op”), but they can also criticize the journal’s practices or call for broader change in the industry.