Change doesn’t always come easily to America’s oldest weekly magazine of opinion (and news and culture). But with this issue, The Nation unveils several exciting changes, with the design overseen by Stephen Kling of Avenging Angels, in consultation with graphic artists Walter Bernard and Milton Glaser. Our own production director, Omar Rubio, contributed as well. Aimed at making the magazine more spirited, accessible and readable to both new and longtime readers, the redesign includes:

§ A bolder cover logo, harking back to mid-twentieth-century incarnations of The Nation.

§ A livelier design inside the magazine, with a distinctive new typeface, bolder pull-quotes and an expanded use of photos and illustrations.

§ Two new editorial features that will appear every week: “Noted” will feature brief comments, late-breaking news, revealing statistics, anecdotes, curiosities, shout-outs, disses, obits, quotable quotes and other short takes. This also nods to our long history: The very first issue of The Nation, published July 6, 1865, carried short items in a section called “The Week.”

In addition, “Comix Nation” will include cartoons and strips from a talented repertory of editorial cartoonists and illustrators, including Robert Grossman and Steve Brodner.

One thing you will not see in the redesigned Nation: glossy paper. Slick paper may be seductive to many, but we revel in the immediacy and grittiness of newsprint. It’s in line with our message, and it’s true to our history.

Also in line with our message, we are pleased to report that with this issue the magazine will be printed on 100 percent recycled paper. With 40 percent post-consumer waste content and chlorine-free, acid-free processing, the new paper offers a longer archival life and higher environmental standards. Our previous paper included some recycled content, but Environmental Defense’s “paper calculator” shows that 6,290 trees per year will be saved with the new paper stock, and the magazine’s carbon footprint will decrease by 1.3 million pounds a year. Another benefit is that the new stock will be a shade brighter than the older one, creating stronger photos and illustrations.