We Hear You

A magazine must listen to its readers. We create this publication out of our own passion, knowledge, and instincts every month, but it��s just as important to know what you want and expect from us. Through studies and by reading our e-mail, we��ve heard you tell us that while you like our combination of journalism, lifestyle, and service, what sends you drilling down through our pages every month is clear, smart presentation of the Web��s changing resources. That dovetails with our own experience: While we continue to enjoy the Net as an entertainment and communication platform, increasingly we look to it for things that are useful, even vital, in our daily lives.

That said, watch for some changes in this issue. It��s hardly a redesign��I��m proud to say that the Society of Publication Designers just bestowed three merit citations on Y-Life for the past year��s work by design director GAIL GHEZZI, consultant ROBERT PRIEST, and our art and photography staff, and we don��t fix what isn��t broken. You will, however, see subtle changes in several areas of the magazine.

First, Web Guide, our comprehensive review section in the back of the magazine, has been reengineered to make it more task-oriented. We��re now focusing on how the sites can help you achieve your everyday goals, rather than just reviewing the contents of their pages.

Next, take a look at Web User, our up-front section that explains in a short, snappy way how to get things done, whether it��s tweaking your browser or networking your home. The digital age keeps throwing new stuff at us; this is our way of helping you keep up with things without having to enroll in an extension course. We��ve added a page to Web User, most of which went toward enhancing and expanding our popular Step by Step feature.

Finally, we��ve rearranged our opening section, Click!. On the second page, you��ll find Up & Coming, a brief calendar of events you��ll want to keep an eye on in the coming month. That��s followed by Cut & Paste, a sampling of the most interesting trends, topics, and follies that crossed our browsers this month, told in text and pictures. Then comes Net Buzz, where we sum up recent Net news (and take our own shots pro and con) to give you a concise sense of what��s been happening online.

From there on, starting with the very popular, very talented Incredibly Useful Sites, you get all the familiar departments you know and appreciate. Credit for these midflight maneuvers goes especially to senior editor CREE MCCREE, who oversees Web Guide, departments editor RON BEL BRUNO, who juggles Click! and the front sections (among other things), and technology editor DON WILLMOTT and senior editor ROB BERNSTEIN, who reshaped Web User. Thanks, guys. You may not always listen to me, but you��ve been listening to our readers.

Oh, and while we��re listening: This month marks our second annual ��Sites We Love�� feature, where we sound off on our favorite bookmarks, whether supremely useful or utterly frivolous. Two changes: This year we��ve added a selection of our least favorite sites, and we��ve opened up the fun to our readers. Send the sites you love to [email protected], and we��ll print some of your faves in an upcoming issue (for more details, see page 67).

Copyright © 2002 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in Yahoo! Internet Life.