1) a cover with a gender-neutral message, "Conference and YOU" that was illustrated by a photograph of ALL girls. I liked that.
2) The use of QR codes throughout the magazine to link to the videos of General Conference talks. Yeah, okay, it's maybe a little gimmicky but I think the Church is working harder to make good use of current technology, social media, the interwebs, and seems to have a grasp of how members (especially its cellphone-wielding teenaged ones) might already be wanting to use smartphones for accessing devotional/scriptural material, so why not? I really liked that, too.
Although it did make me wonder: were those in the Liahona, too? Are QR codes international (I know they originated in Japan), and would people throughout the international church be familiar with them or have the capability on their phones to use them? Any of our overseas readers want to weigh in? (PS - the Church would love feedback on QRs, since it's a new feature - see here).
So - the May New Era: 2 for 2. Nice work, folks!!
Oh, and by the way? The May Friend magazine? Don't get me started. The retrogressive gendered messages are aiming younger and younger, my friends. While the New Era is getting hipper and more in tune with its target audience, the May Friend went back to the 1950s. Oh well. There's always next month.
Great, great move anytime we are keeping up with the way people learn and communicate. But I think what I like best about this in the New Era is that it assumes that the teenagers would want to get information straight from the source. Maybe it's the Ranciere fan in me, but I really like seeing people trusting in each other's desire (and ability) for knowledge and truth. This change in the New Era not only treats them as equals by understanding how they like to access information, it treats them as equals by assuming what they want to have access to is truth, and straight from the source.
ReplyDeleteNow, will we see this also in the Ensign? Fun to wait and see...
I've really enjoyed the Ensign for the past year. My subscription to the New Era has lapsed since I'm not in a calling that uses it.
ReplyDeleteBut, the Friend...goodness! I try to focus on the increase number of games and puzzles that keep my kids quiet during sacrament now :)