After celebrating 25 years of this publication’s legacy, it was time for us to debut the new look! I admit that while we were putting together our anniversary special in the September/October issue, we were already planning our new design.
I think it was important for everyone on our team at Annex Business Media to use this historical milestone to bring Hatchery International into the next chapter of its life. Last issue, we explored the different looks and the different stages that took place within its lifetime. We honoured it and now, we get to usher the publication into its next 25 years.
At the same time, I also hope that the publication still feels like the one that our readers have come to know and love. I’m only one editor in a long line of editors that have made their mark in its pages, but I also know that it’s my turn to bring my best work on here.
Actually, I should say, it’s our turn. A redesign like this is a team effort. From our Editorial team, to our Sales team, to our Production designers, to our group publisher, our vice-presidents and our CEO, this was an “all hands on deck” type of project. Everyone on every level wanted to make sure that we were all doing our best work to serve an industry that has trusted us to reflect their work and their values back to them.
Any big changes like this can involve a lot of risk but I also think that the whole experience was done with a lot of care and passion. So, I want to take the time to thank everyone who agonized over every detail of this change.
A special thanks goes to our lead designer on this project, Curtis Martin. He brought a fresh new eye to our team that we really needed to challenge what we were used to. I think that as we continue to grow with his design, we’ll see all the ways that it will enhance the content that we work on.
Speaking of content, our team took a long, hard look at the substance of our publication as well.
I delved into our audience surveys, our newsletter statistics, our Google Analytics, and our social media data. I talked to our Editorial Advisory board and other trusted industry professionals. I pored through other aquaculture media outlets. I read articles on the future of the media business, in general. I even found some hatchery textbooks that were useful.
This is all for me to say that we want to be bold in how we bring this brand and this publication into 2025. In order to do that, I do what I do best and go to the research. I learn all that I can to make sure that the trust that our readers have placed in this publication to provide relevant and reliable information is not lost in our ambition to grow in experimentation. As we endeavour to try new things, we want to bring you, our reader community, with us. We want to always be listening to your interests and your priorities, so that we can make content (whether that be for print or online) that brings value to your everyday work.
A few weeks ago, I sought out mentorship with a few of my senior colleagues and they all encouraged me stay curious. I was challenged to look at where I had fallen short in my work and really dissect what I could learn for the next project. They taught me that even as I enter into my fifth year working in this industry, I have to be careful about being complacent. I cannot assume that I know what the audience is thinking or feeling at all times.
As you all know so well, you cannot let your personal biases inform your investigation. You must always go back to what the data is showing you.
If our team ever misses the mark, please don’t hesitate to reach out and give your two cents. As I always like to say, my inbox is always open at jkodin@annexbusinessmedia.com.
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