The French tell us that the more things change, the more they stay the same. And that might appear to be the case for Public Finance.
Having started its life over 100 years ago as a monthly title, PF is now returning to its original frequency. This is the last weekly version of the magazine and, from December, we will be monthly again.
But this is far from a ‘back to the future’ situation. The new Public Finance – a monthly print magazine with an up-to-the-minute website – will be very much a twenty-first century phenomenon.
We aim to retain the quality and provocative writing of the weekly format, but add a number of exciting features. A monthly frequency enables us to be more in-depth and analytical, to get behind the headlines and to cover more ground.
Meanwhile, the PF editorial website will be redesigned to offer a user-friendly way of following public sector stories as they break. Our daily e-newsletter will also give a sample of the best news stories, features and blogs on the site.
The first monthly PF will be a bumper issue of 68 pages. It includes an exclusive interview with Danny Alexander, the chief secretary to the Treasury, a ‘Need to Know’ section on professional development and a look at watchdogs down your way.
Our popular writers – including Tony Travers, Colin Talbot, Heather Wakefield, Iain Macwhirter and Victoria Macdonald – will continue to contribute regular pieces to both the monthly magazine and the PF blog.
Of course, there will be some sadness at the loss of the old-style PF. The magazine has been weekly for more than 25 years and has developed a certain character and reputation as a result.
But, like much of the public sector, we are having to adapt to financial realities and to the new ways in which busy professional people receive their information.
PF has continuously moved with the times, transforming itself over the decades into a widely read and respected public sector title. We plan to maintain this tradition as we move into these hugely challenging times.
I hope you enjoy the new Public Finance. The first monthly magazine should reach readers on December 10, the week that CIPFA celebrates its 125th anniversary.
As ever, feedback would be welcome on what you like and don’t like about our new format.
Readers can sign up for the daily e-newsletter at publicfinance.co.uk
Mike Thatcher is Editor of Public Finance
