Reader's Digest Magazine Redesigns Editions Worldwide

Posted on March 31, 1998

Reader's Digest magazine announced a major redesign for its 48 editions worldwide, taking the familiar table of contents off the cover and replacing it with bold photography and enhanced graphics. The change is effective with the May 1998 issues of the magazine, which is published in 48 editions and 19 languages and read monthly by more than 100 million readers. An expanded, two-page table of contents with photos and highlights about articles appears inside, categorizing by themes such as health/fitness, current affairs, people and drama/adventure.

"This redesign is driven by our longtime goal of serving our readers, as well as making the world's favorite magazine easier to use and more contemporary looking," said Reader's Digest Editor-in-Chief Christopher Willcox. "We haven't changed our editorial approach. We just got better looking."

To dramatize the redesign and demonstrate the global reach of Reader's Digest, all 48 editions will carry the same cover art -- a photo of a San Francisco female firefighter featured in the upcoming book Fighting Fire. The magazine's popular book section features an exclusive excerpt of the book, which will be published in May by St. Martin's Press.