FROM THE EDITOR
Changes in W&GT Boost Appearance and Readability by diane stirling
W Diane Stirling is editor in chief of Welding & Gases Today. A career journalist, public relations practitioner, communications strategist and online content creator, she is part of the GAWDA Media team. Get in touch with her at dianes@datakey. org and 315-445-2347.
elcome to the first Welding & Gases Today issue of the year, and to the magazine’s whole new look. In the 15 months since the new GAWDA Media team took the reins, several improvements have been made to the magazine’s appearance and contents. With this issue, a full-scale rebranding of GAWDA’s official publication has been undertaken. First, you’ll notice a bolder and more distinctive cover design. The Welding & Gases Today title now is prominently displayed and no longer obscures the GAWDA logo. The subtitle headlines have been standardized and streamlined. Inside the front cover, the Table of Contents has been opened up and organized for easier reference to page numbers where articles begin. Interior pages have been upgraded to reflect contemporary design standards typical of national business magazines. New page headers are color coded. The stylized and colored headers remain the same issue to issue for various categories of articles. That provides a visual reference point that helps readers more easily find and reference their favorite article sections. New typefaces and more generous use of white space in header areas and throughout article layouts boost readability. The magazine’s advertising platform has
undergone some changes, too. Ad opportunities offer added exposure, continuity and value through bundled packages and repeat insertion schedules, plus opportunities to pair ads in the online news counterpart, the GAWDA Connection newsletter. These changes reflect the types of improvements GAWDA members have been asking for, as well as pertinent quality standards for contemporary magazines. We think they also showcase the current state of the Gases and Welding Distributors Association as a forward-looking organization in an ever-evolving industry. We’re also very pleased that GAWDA Media is now more thoroughly integrated as a support arm for the GAWDA Headquarters staff. Our enhanced alignment is taking many forms to support staff needs and the requests of leadership. You’ll see this hand-in-glove relationship take form in the way news is better covered, information presentations are enhanced and extra staffing is available for association events, media and promotional support and special efforts implementing GAWDA communications and strategic initiatives. As always, we’re interested in your feedback. We hope you’ll reach out anytime you have ideas to share that will help us meet the interests of GAWDA members for news and for their member-to-member communication.
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@GAWDAMEDIA @WeldGasToday 12 • Winter 2017