Inside the new Fortune magazine

Starting March 4th, we've got a new design, new sections, new columnists -- and an even deeper commitment to long-form business narratives.

So with all the attention we've been heaping on Fortune.com lately, we've also been waaaay busy over at Fortune the magazine.

The new-look Fortune represents the latest iteration of the deep-dive business magazine founded by Henry Luce 80 years ago. Our flagship has changed many times over the decades to conform to the warp and woof of the business world and the way you interact with it. Regular readers will see that the changes we have made are substantial, yet evolutionary.

Before altering course, we consulted extensively with current and potential readers alike--and then we did some serious soul-searching over what we think a business magazine today should be about.

It was clear that everyone still wants the big Fortune story, like this issue's look at the new business elite emerging from the nation's armed services. But we didn't ignore those who told us that they wanted as much information as possible about how to manage their careers--including ways to think more entrepreneurially--in and outside of large companies. Thus, two new sections: Careers and Venture.

You should also know that we are investing in providing a superior magazine-reading experience, first by printing on higher-quality paper stock and then by charging our creative director extraordinaire, John Korpics, and his crack team with reworking the architecture and display of this new magazine to better reflect its mission. I am also very proud to introduce a bold opinion section featuring several new columnists, including CNBC Squawk Box anchor and former Wall Street Journal reporter Becky Quick, who will opine on all manner of business subjects from her position of unusual access.

And on top of all of these new features, we think you'll find that Fortune's commitment to the highest-quality, long-form narrative storytelling is stronger than ever. That truly is the heart and soul of our magazine, and it is where readers say we continue to add the most value. So that's the story on the new Fortune, 2010 model. Enjoy!