Ted Nield introduces you to thenew-look print-version of Geoscientist
Geoscientist 21.1 February 2011
Woody Allen famously wrote – in the script to his 1977 hit
Annie Hall, that “a relationship is like shark – it needs to move forward to survive”. It is now seven years since this magazine was last radically redesigned. Subsequently, in Bicentenary Year (2007) we took the existing design to full colour. Apart from that - and a few minor adjustments - our basic plan, typefaces and layout have remained largely unaltered.
This design, which comes courtesy of our new Art Editor Heena Gudka of
Century One Publishing, we hope brings us not only up to date, but marks a radical upgrade in our presentation that will find a grateful audience among those of our readers who have said, from time to time, that our old fonts were too weedy for them to read, especially when placed over tints or images.
Your new
Geoscientist is bolder, more confident and easier on the eye – especially older eyes. And while it means we will never again need to use tinted or photographic backgrounds, it marks no diminution in our commitment to striking visuals and high quality photographs.
Our editorial structure remains unaltered, though you will find that some things have changed position. We used, for example, to put “People” first; but that was a decision taken before we carried obituaries. Many readers have commented that to open a magazine and find obituaries was not perhaps the best policy, and we agree. Obituaries now come fittingly at the back.
Each issue will in future carry two features – one lead feature at 2500 words and a second feature at 1250. In other sections, like Geonews, People and Society News, stories will be shorter and crisper in style. Many will highlight online versions written more expansively for those interested in following them up, in depth. This will mean that detailed and important news about, for example, changes to CPD or Chartership procedures, will appear in full online, flagged by abbreviated items in the print version of Society News.
Geoscientist belongs to you – in the very real sense that it is the magazine of the Fellowship, not of “The Society”. While it relies hugely upon contributions from staff and its Editorial Board, the people who really matter are – as Leonard Sachs used to say - “chiefly yourselves”. So, contributions - particularly of feature articles - are warmly invited. Features are the backbone of the publication, and provide a great opportunity for you to highlight your geological work to a wider readership.
- If you wish to discuss a feature idea, or indeed if you have any views on our new design, please write to [email protected].