The ABA Journal gets a new look and feel
| Author | Molly Mcdonough |
| Pages | 5-5 |
5
ABA JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2019
The ABA Journal
Gets a New Look
and Feel
BY MOLLY MCDONOUGH
Welcome to the new ABA
Journal.
When the ABA
Journal staff began
planning this cover-to-cover redesign,
we did what journalists tend to do. We
reported, interviewed and listened. We
researched the market, conducted sur-
veys, picked apart every single printed
page, and, importantly, we asked ABA
members what they wanted.
Our goal was to improve the quality
of the ABA’s agship magazine and the
experience for its readers. We determined
that in its look, feel, and importantly, its
journalism, the Journal should continue
to be: high-quality, relevant, informative,
inspirational, entertaining and designed
to help build even stronger connections
between readers and the ABA.
These elements are the foundation
of the Journal’s 104-year-old existence.
They’ve seen the magazine through
the decades, chronicling the evolution
of the legal profession. In addition to
covering trends and issues, the Journal
has proled legal powerhouses and
Main Street practitioners. We’ve shared
wisdom gathered from chief justices
and presidents, from law students and
paralegals, from rst-year lawyers and
from 70-year practitioners.
When I reviewed our research, I was
heartened to learn that readers enjoyed
the printed magazine. But a majority
(71%) didn’t want it every month.
Survey data also revealed that
readers wanted more of what we enjoy
producing most: substantive articles,
practical advice and legal industry
insights.
In response, we trimmed the
frequency of publication from 12 to
six issues per year. With the produc-
tion savings, we were able to invest in
higher-quality paper and a new size
and format that give the written word,
typography and art more prominence.
We reimagined and reorganized
our magazine departments to reect
the wide array of issues and interests
of the bar as a whole—from analyzing
national and international legal news to
offering practical advice to lawyers.
We’ve aligned the Journal’s new
design with the ABA’s new unied
branding, incorporating elements of
the ABA’s redesigned logo and color
patterns throughout the magazine.
In the coming issues, you will see
additional changes. We’ll better align
the Journal’s production cycle with the
ABA’s calendar so we can bring you the
latest and most relevant content that’s
important you—our members.
I welcome your feedback about the
changes. You can email comments as
well as suggestions you may have to
improve your reading experience to
feedback@abajournal.com.
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