So you might have seen it: the newly designed print edition of Defense News. Subscribers should have their copies or receive them soon.

It’s a big moment for us. The final product is the result of many, many months of discussion, and we’re proud of it. The changes, subtle in some aspects and rather profound in others, are about a lot more than print. But this is our big reveal of the new design. So let’s start there.

Some of what changed is about aesthetics. You’ll notice a thicker, more elegant paper stock, which not only feels better in your hands but really allows color to pop off the page. You’ll notice an ever-so-modest tweak to our logo as well as new headline and font treatments, which are more contemporary in design and quite simply easier to read, as well as more attractive to the eye.

You’ll also notice a new pace to the publication — smaller nuggets of news and analysis in the front that provide insight at a glance, followed by the special report and news sections that you’ve come to rely on for analysis, pumped up a bit with more visual elements and data-driven features. Collectively, the new design brings more voice, more variety of content and even a touch of humor (there is sometimes a lighter side to the defense business) — all while maintaining the integrity, credibility and authoritative market expertise you’ve come to expect from Defense News.

You might call the redesign the culmination of many changes and investment in Defense News that have been taking place over the last couple of years. It’s the latest in an evolution undertaken companywide to better match our collective multimedia offerings with the interests and needs of our contemporary audience. This is about far more than any paper product.

Defense News has always delivered superior content and unparalleled news coverage of defense. That commitment is steadfast. We have the best reporters in the business; we understand the defense community better than any other media outlet. So we’ve built on our base.

There is obviously more reliance on digital platforms, including our own web/mobile site in particular — as the primary means of staying informed in the moment. Social media is an important means of getting our stories and perspective out to the masses. Video is now an enduring means of storytelling with our direct access to decision-makers. And events are increasingly a premiere opportunity to not only inform, but to collaborate with all levels of defense leadership and industry. (We just hosted the 17th Annual C4ISRNET Conference this month — a huge success — and will host the second annual Defense News Conference in September.) And modern warfare is spurring new markets, inspiring the launch of our cyber brand FifthDomain.com, which pairs nicely with C4ISRNET, serving the network defense community.

So this evolution in how we deliver news and analysis brings a shift in what the print product represents. We want to make it a better user experience, to showcase the analysis, context and perspective beyond the ticktock coverage of the day. Like all media brands, we’re always evolving. You might say this redesign shows just how far we’ve come, building upon the best.

About Jill Aitoro

Jill Aitoro is editor of Defense News. She is also executive editor of Sightline Media's Business-to-Government group, including Defense News, C4ISRNET, Federal Times and Fifth Domain. She brings over 15 years’ experience in editing and reporting on defense and federal programs, policy, procurement, and technology.

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