Flagship Magazine

Gets a "Makeover"

By Denise Jarrett Weeks

After a decade in print, the Laboratory's award-winning Northwest Education magazine is getting a new look. Watch for it in early October with the release of "Transforming High School," the fall 2004 edition about the important work that's taking place in the region to make high schools more personal, relevant, and challenging.

Indeed, the magazine is transformed. After bringing together our own learning community of readers and magazine publishing experts, we asked them if we could improve the magazine. We learned a thing or two.

Number 1: We really know how to tell a good story. The magazine runs consistently compelling stories about people in Northwest schools, passing on their hard-earned wisdom and inspired ideas.

Number 2: We needed a more up-to-date design that made for pleasing and unencumbered reading. We needed to make sure the design wasn't getting in the way of the stories.

We took that advice to heart. The editorial team reimagined nearly every aspect of the publication, from the way we choose themes and stories to the use of color and art. The result, we trust, is a magazine that invites you to dip in for a quick read of short articles or, when you've time, to settle in for some good old storytelling.

You'll also find new departments, including a "Research Brief" summarizing pertinent findings on a theme, some intriguing statistics in "Region at a Glance," and essays by our constituencies in "Voices."

We have expanded the online version of the magazine to include Web exclusive articles at www.nwrel.org/nwedu/. This allows us to bring you even more information and resources, including "Money Matters" featuring funding opportunities.

We'd love to hear from you. Offer feedback on the fall edition, "Transforming High School"; tell us what you think of the new design; or pass along suggestions and story ideas. Drop a note by e-mail to nwedufeedback@nwrel.org.