As you opened this issue of the Journal, you undoubtedly recognized the change of our front cover. While this change is new and even somewhat dramatic, other changes are occurring to your Journal over this year. Next month, very astute readers will notice subtle changes in the layout of each manuscript. These changes are occurring as we shift the responsibility for production from Basingstoke, England, UK to New York City, NY, USA. The change in production site allows better coordination of the publishing process as all involved personnel are in the same time zone in New York.

The Journal will now be published on a monthly basis with 12 issues per year. Previously, we have been on an eight-issue-per-year schedule and sometimes readers and authors did not know what to expect in regard to whether or not they were missing an issue. This change will also improve the timeliness of the published materials as well as allowing us to increase the amount of some content.

We introduced our electronic Manuscript Tracking System for article submission and review in 2002. We have now completed over a year of experience with it and have demonstrated an improved ability in rapid review of manuscripts being considered for publication. Problems associated with mail and file organization have disappeared. Unseen by our readers is an evolution of this system that will allow seamless issue production coordinated with the submission and evaluation process. The reporting functions of this program allow tracking of manuscripts, performance assessment of editors and reviewers, and statistics regarding manuscripts. Finally, benchmarking of the overall timeliness of publication decisions is also easily available to “hold the editor's feet to the fire”.

Beginning this Spring, the Journal will introduce Advance Online Publication. Once manuscripts have completed the galley proof stage, they will be available on our website to all subscribers before print publication is available. The date of publication will be identified as when the paper is first electronically published. After a few weeks, the article will be published and distributed to the readership in the usual print format. In this manner, virtually all manuscripts will be published on a rapid track, as delays resulting from missing a print publication cycle will not occur. As always, for articles of special timely importance we will advance and slow, as appropriate, the publication cycle.

The Journal remains a feature of the nature.com website. Web hits and registrants of the Table of Content alert continue to increase. The Journal website attracts nearly 30,000 readers every month and, as of this writing, the Table of Contents of each issue is sent to 31,183 registrants. The print version of Journal is distributed to over 3000 members of the Perinatal Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics who also have online access to each article.

As always, the Journal publishes articles relating to all aspects of perinatal and neonatal care. We are continuing to highlight original clinical research reports. However, Case Reports demonstrating new concepts of pathophysiology or case management, Imaging Case Presentations, Commentaries, State of the Art Reviews and Special Articles are also featured. The Letters to the Editor section is becoming more active. A new feature is being planned that will bring a timely review and commentary on recently published papers on a selected topic each month. Finally, I encourage all readers to participate in the Journal through submission of articles in any of the active sections.