Report to Readers

The publisher and editor on changes in the magazine’s design—and its evolving service to readers in its 125th anniversary year

Image of the magazine website, mobile version, and cover

  

 

January 2023

In challenging times—pandemic and inflation, polarized politics, the horrors of war in Europe—Harvard’s work matters more than ever. Discovering the biological mechanisms that lead to novel vaccines. Exploring the histories and cultures that shape international relations. Probing social media and establishing ethical guardrails for artificial intelligence. Devising effective solutions to the climate crisis. And educating the next generation of leaders.

Harvard’s research and teaching provide the solutions that the world so desperately needs.

Harvard Magazine is privileged to cover the University, on your behalf. As a source of independent journalism on Harvard (and the voice of alumni since 1898), we report on faculty scholarship, emerging disciplines, teaching and learning, and important news—to keep you objectively informed about this essential institution and its extraordinary people. That is our mission—one to which we remain fully committed in this 125th year of publication.

A Modest Makeover

You will find the forthcoming January-February issue slightly changed.

  • New headline typefaces, revised page designs, and other improvements make the magazine more readable, without sacrificing content.
  • Each separate section (Right Now, John Harvard’s Journal, Montage, and so on) now begins with a consistent look.
  • A new section, University People, combines alumni features, The Undergraduate column, and broadened coverage of students from across Harvard—bringing together contents that had previously been separated or combined with news coverage.
  • The simplified Table of Contents highlights the sections more directly—and the box on the following page features the large volume of website reporting and social media contents appearing online between bimonthly printed issues.

In addition to their editorial logic—making the magazine work better for you—these changes align with the new look and navigation features coming to harvardmagazine.com later this year. None is for show. All are meant to enhance our service to readers, however you choose to access Harvard Magazine’s journalism.

Earning Your Support

We hope you continue to enjoy your magazine in print and online—and that we continue to merit your support. In a world of rampant disinformation, objective journalism and in-depth reporting also matter more than ever. As we strive to maintain a highly skilled staff and manage rapidly rising costs, we deeply appreciate the alumni and advertisers who choose to sustain this enterprise on all readers’ behalf. You can join them at harvardmagazine.com/support.

With sincere thanks and best wishes for the new year,

Irina Kuksin, Publisher 

John S. Rosenberg, Editor

Related topics

You might also like

Harvard will rename the building following a $100 million gift from Stuart Zimmer ’91.

Pritzker Hall, designed for collaboration, should be complete in 2027.

The Goel Center in Allston will open for performances in the fall of 2026.

Most popular

An animal’s journey from grief to love shows how much humans need each other, too.

The former economics concentrator brings his talent for crunching numbers to netminding.

Meet Harvard’s 2026 Student Commencement Speakers

Two undergraduates and a Ph.D. candidate will address the graduating class on May 28.

Explore More From Current Issue

Singer performing on stage with a guitar, wearing a hat, and surrounded by band instruments.

Singer Elisa Smith’s whiskey-soaked voice and subversive feminism is part of the genre’s urban shift.

Katie O’Dair in academic regalia holds a ceremonial staff outdoors at a graduation ceremony.

How Katie O’Dair makes kings, comedians, and parents feel welcome on campus.

A vibrant group of dancers in colorful outfits poses on a stage with shiny decorations.

The Harvard Arts Medalist wants his smash-hit Cats revival to reach “as many young queer people” as possible.