Editor-in-chief and CEO of TIME magazine Edward Felsenthal penned a poignant letter on how the publisher would cover the coronavirus pandemic.
The letter, which will appear in the March 30, 2020, issue of TIME, details the plans the magazine has put in place to provide its readers with its essential updates as COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc across the globe.
First of all, the magazine has launched a daily newsletter that pulls together essential updates. It is also working to offer TIME for Kids—a weekly school-based magazine for grades K through 6—online and free.
While social distancing has meant it will postpone its annual TIME 100 issue, summit and gala until later int the year, the magazine will be publishing a special issue next month featuring insights on the pandemic from its TIME 100 community of global leaders. It will be followed by a virtual summit on meeting the challenge of COVID-19.
Felsenthal wrote: “We are doing our work, as so many of you are, while remote from our offices, with our families and loved ones in various states of social distance. Nearly all our employees are now working from home. I’m writing this letter from my kitchen table, and my colleagues have worked from similar settings to produce this issue.
“Like you, we are finding new ways of working, some of which will no doubt outlast this crisis, and searching for new ways to meet the needs of work, family, and physical and mental health. Our teams connect regularly by videoconference, getting glimpses of each other’s homes, children and pets, as well as insights into how various parts of the globe are coping.”
He continued: “While we are doing everything we can to ensure the health and safety of our employees, families and communities, our commitment to you remains steadfast. We are all experiencing information overload, and yet there is so much confusion about what information can be trusted—and much is still unknown.”
This week’s magazine features six covers showing images ranging from the tragically hard-hit Life Care Center in Kirkland, Wash., to the balconies of Tehran and the streets of China.
Felsenthal concluded: “For more than 97 years, through countless global crises and stories of resilience, TIME has been here. Our editorial team will continue to do everything we can across all our print, digital and social channels to help you navigate this incredibly complex moment, and our business team remains deeply focused on our subscribers and partners. We’ll keep you updated.”
