CPA Journal Celebrates New Design

By Tom Morris, Managing Editor, The CPA Journal

On Jan. 27, The CPA Journal, the technical publication of the New York State Society of CPAs, held the first-ever meeting of its editorial board, followed by a reception to celebrate the newly redesigned January 2004 issue.

Editor-in-Chief Robert H. Colson gave the board members an overview of the history and evolution of the publication that has become today’s CPA Journal.

The group, attending both in person and via teleconference, engaged in a far-ranging discussion that reflected the diversity of the board members’ backgrounds and perspectives, all of which, Colson said, are important in charting the Journal’s course for the future.

Since the editorial board was established in 1999, its role has grown to encompass board members writing articles, developing content authored by others, voting for the outstanding articles for each year’s Max Block Award, providing technical review on blind submissions, and advising the editors on issues and trends the board sees emerging in the profession.

Colson said the redesign project represented the most significant change to the structure and appearance of the magazine since March 1972, when a section titled “News & Views” joined the “Articles” and “Departments” sections that had been the bulk of the magazine’s pages, and April 1985, when the Journal had its first full-color cover.

In the redesigned magazine, technical content is organized into six “Essential” sections that appear in every issue: Accounting and Auditing; Taxation; Finance; Management; Responsibilities and Leadership; and Technology. In addition, most issues have an “In Focus” section with one or more articles of broad interest to all readers. The “News & Views” section was retitled “Perspectives” but remains similar in mission and has been expanded to allow more room for readers and others connected with the CPA profession to have an active voice. The Journal Web site, www.cpajournal.com, with archives going back to 1989, continues to play an important role as an extension of the Journal for New York State Society CPAs as well as other subscribers and readers.

In 2005 The CPA Journal will turn 75, and during that year the editors plan to share with its readers relevant glimpses at the past that illuminate the present.