But I didn’t see it, despite looking, precisely because it is not in a customary location (although I would have found it had I been more patient). Also, the layout made me think that the author was the person credited with the photograph at the top of the article. Why is the author's identity hidden at the bottom? This is a failure of design.

I guess you're reading on a phone. It's at the top of the left column on desktop.

Nope, reading on a laptop. It’s at the bottom of the page. But if I zoom out to < 100%, the layout makes more sense. Again, a failure of design.

This problem was recently discussed here on HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26900755

Crucial divs should not hide themselves away when the user makes a tiny change in window size, etc. Author and date should remain at the top, right under the article title.

Wow, I have to zoom all the way up to 200% for that div to go to the bottom. And I am just on a good-old 1920x1080 display, nothing remotely modern. What kind of display are you on?

2560 x 1700 (2013 Chromebook Pixel).

Why would you need to zoom out more on a higher resolution display? Makes no sense.

Look at the aspect ratios.