The Next Generation of Comment

It's spring here in Hamilton, Ontario, and the change is glorious. Birds are singing and the grey wall of the Niagara Escarpment is turning fresh and green again. And along with the changes outside, spring is an opportunity to clean up and rearrange the house a bit—after a long winter indoors, it's refreshing to do a little dusting and rearranging.

In that spirit, we'd like to let you know of a few changes that will usher in a new season for Comment magazine.

The Team

Our editorial structure is shifting. Alissa Wilkinson has moved into a co-editor position along with Brian Dijkema, a new member of the team.

Alissa has served as Comment's associate editor since 2008 and brings a wealth of experience and skill. In addition to her work on Comment, Alissa teaches English and humanities at The King's College in New York and writes about culture, religion, and politics in a number of different publications, including Christianity Today, Books & Culture, and Paste. She'll also begin studying for an MFA in nonfiction at Seattle Pacific University this fall.

Brian Dijkema continues the line of Comment editors from a labour background. He worked for seven years with a Canadian labour union before joining Comment's team. His background and his interest in making and strengthening bridges between work, faith, and daily living bring a yeomanlike sensibility to the magazine.

Online Changes

We're re-organizing our online presence at www.cardus.ca/comment for easier access to the archives, and you've already seen us implement Facebook commenting. Interested in reading Comment on a mobile device or e-reader? We'll soon release editions for the Kindle, iPad, and other platforms.

We're also changing the structure of our content. You will now see additional long-form essays and dispatches on current events and newly-released works. And we'll be publishing throughout the week. We think that when it comes to Comment, more is better.

Print Changes

Finally, our print structure is evolving, too. This year, we will begin doubling the length of our print editions and producing two issues per year (rather than our current four). Many of our readers have asked us to stay a while on the themes and topics discussed in Comment; this longer format will allow you and Comment to sit down, grab a mug, and dig deep into the big questions.

This new print format is an experiment, and while our treasured subscribers will be receiving the same amount of content, we know you will be getting print content less frequently. So, for existing subscribers (everyone up to May 29, 2011) we will be extending your subscription by one year at no cost to you. You should have received this information by mail in April/May—contact our office if you have any questions about your subscription.

We want to thank you, our subscribers, for your continued support of Comment. The magazine has a unique breadth in its community of readers and writers, and it would not be the magazine that it is without your support.

We hope you are as excited about these changes as we are! Please spread the word. As with content, so with readers—more is better! So point potential new Comment readers to us—in print and online—and if you have any questions, write or give us a call.

God bless you this spring,

The Comment Team
May 30, 2011