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Re-Introducing The National Journal

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Let’s forget the Midterm and focus on the more important news: National Journal’s relaunched itself today. The gist of Atlantic Media’s relaunch? Unified newsrooms!

Yes, NJ has combined CongressDaily and The Hotline into itself to form another political media hydra to wage war (and share links with) Politico, CQ-Roll Call and The Hill. But there’s also focus on original video content, faster web production and the new new cover story interview with President Obama 2.0.

The full release is after the jump.

Washington, D.C. (October 25, 2010) The new National Journal is here.

Today, National Journal Group launches its new online presence, redesigned publications, and expanded content with a special edition of National Journal magazine and the relaunch of NationalJournal.com.

In a now-unified newsroom, National Journal brings together the intelligence, insight, and depth of Washington’s most trusted brands – National Journal, CongressDaily, and The Hotline – and infuses them with the speed, currency, and agility of a new digital-first platform.

“At the new National Journal, we don’t accept the notion that speed and depth are mutually exclusive,” said National Journal Group Editor-in-Chief Ron Fournier. “With a unified newsroom, more than 40 new topflight journalists, and redesigned products from top to bottom, we’re going to deliver the high-quality information our audience needs to know, whenever, wherever, and however they need it.”

So what’s new?  Below are some highlights.

  • A completely relaunched online news site providing free, 24/7 high-quality coverage of the politics, policy, and people who make Washington tick, aimed at a national audience of political news consumers.
  • A daily “Top 10” Need to Know Memo, highlighting the day’s most essential pieces of need-to-know information across the policy and political spheres.
  • The Need to Know Video , an exclusive video regularly updated with interviews and reporting from National Journal’s newsroom on the storylines Washington leaders need to follow.
  • The Daily Fray, a regularly updated aggregation of the “best of the rest” – political stories from across the web, powered by the popular Atlantic Wire site.
  • Crisply redesigned online and mobile sites providing rapid, intuitive access to National Journal content however, whenever, and wherever users seek it.

  • A dramatically enhanced subscriber experience online, maintaining all the content, context, and utility that National Journal has always provided, now expanded with richer, deeper, and more constantly updated coverage of five “vertical” issue areas – Health Care, Energy & Environment, Economics, Budget & Taxes, and National Security – and three “horizontal” beats – White House, Congress and Politics.
  • Reporting and analysis on these and other critical issues from one of the largest and most talented newsrooms in Washington, including Major Garrett, Beth Reinhard, Michael Hirsh, Marc Ambinder, Yochi Dreazen, Susan Davis, Jim Tankersley, and Ronald Brownstein.
  • A daily Need to Know Memo for each “vertical” and “horizontal,” cutting through the clutter to provide subscribers with only the most essential information and analysis for their targeted issues in the coming day.
  • Up to 80 original reported stories and analysis pieces per day.
  • A muscular search function providing access to decades of National Journal content.

  • A vividly redesigned magazine written and organized to deliver both comprehensive coverage and distinctive insights on Washington’s most pressing issues.
  • A revamped “Inside Washington” at the front of the book, including the Digest (a two-page review of the week in politics and policy) the Political Insiders Poll, and weekly columns from Ron Brownstein, Matthew Dowd, and rotating voices from the experienced National Journal newsroom.
  • Deep, timely, and thought-provoking full-length features that will shape the long-term trajectory of the Washington conversation.
  • A comprehensive new back-of-the-book “Need to Know” section, featuring tightly written, forward-looking briefings across each of the major issue areas and institutions of Washington life.

  • CongressDaily is now National Journal Daily, taking on a new name, a new look, and an expanded mission, adding broader political coverage and analysis without losing an iota of the policy utility on which its subscribers depend.
  • Critical granular reporting within topic areas featuring the detailed policy content and utility prized by Daily subscribers.
  • Broader, cross-cutting analysis to identify trends, “connect the dots” and examine the overall direction of Congress and the legislative outlook.
  • Expanded political coverage, including the plugged-in insights of the National Journal Hotline team.
  • Expanded people coverage, providing daily insight into the leaders and decision-makers who set the course in Washington.

  • Streamlined access to Hotline’s expansive news, tools, and commentary for political professionals.
  • A brand-new look for Hotline On Call, the indispensable source for up-to-the-minute political reporting and evolving wisdom for the permanent campaign.
  • The Independent Expenditure Tracker follows the political money to show where parties and outside groups are placing their priorities.
  • The Political Calendar brings a comprehensive daily look at what’s happening on the campaign trail.

The new National Journal is live now at NationalJournal.com.

The special relaunch edition of National Journal magazine is released today, featuring an exclusive interview with President Obama, a provocative portrait of Vice President Biden’s role in the administration, and a candid conversation about the future of the Republican caucus with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.  The issue also includes sharp briefings on issues ranging from negotiations with the Taliban to the reluctant economic rescuers at the Federal Reserve, from the looming battle over a national ocean policy to another over legislative redistricting, and much more.

“The relaunch of National Journal is an exciting day for Atlantic Media,” said Atlantic Media President Justin B. Smith.   “We look forward to hearing all our reader feedback and continuing to build our digital-first operation.”