The STEP Journal is going digital

In October 2023, we shared with members the exciting news that the STEP Journal is going digital. This May, we will be launching a new STEP Journal website, which will replace the hard copy publication. The Trust Quarterly Review, a supplement of the Journal, will be incorporated into this new digital Journal platform while maintaining its identity and scope. This means your last print Journal will be Issue 2, 2024 (published in April).

The digital Journal will feature everything you have come to expect from your print copy, from interesting articles on a range of topics to fantastic contributors and high-quality design. Yet it will have all the added functionality you can expect from a digital platform: personalisation, interactivity, search and various other additions.

We are building the platform with usability and accessibility in mind, with new ‘issues’, tailored for you, shared via dedicated STEP Journal e-newsletters.

What are the benefits?

• It is better for the environment: 120,000 fewer magazines (and over 10 million fewer pages) will be printed and distributed globally every year.
• It enables us to provide you with more relevant and timely content: no more one-size-fits-all. Tailored newsletters and the ability to select topics and regions of interest mean you can choose what’s of interest to you.
• It is financially sustainable: the cost of printing and distributing the Journal has rocketed in recent years. By going digital, we can continue to provide you with high-quality content for the long term.
• It is more accessible for all of our members: want to read the Journal in another language? Do you struggle with font sizes or certain colours? Would you prefer to listen to the articles? The digital Journal will cater to your needs.
• It is more interactive: so much more than just reading articles, you will be able to comment on, bookmark and log articles for your continuing professional development (CPD), respond to polls and watch videos.

Most importantly, our move to digital is driven by your feedback. We have carefully listened to your suggestions and preferences, and this transition represents our response to your needs and desires. We know that moving to a digital publication may mean a change in reading habits for some. With that in mind, we have built in the ability for users to download individual articles as a PDF.

This exciting new digital Journal will:

• Personalise the member experience, allowing you to choose what you are most interested in reading about and save articles for later.
• Ensure prompt delivery to all members, no matter where you are based, meaning no more lost or delayed Journal issues.
• Make it easier for you to record your CPD in real time, so come audit time the whole process is easier and you will not have to dig out an article you read three months ago to try to remember why you found it useful in the first place!
• Reduce STEP’s carbon footprint without reducing the amount of content members receive.

We believe that this shift to a digital-only Journal will create a more dynamic and engaging experience for all our members. We are excited to embark on this journey with your support and participation.

In Issue 2, we will share some ‘sneak peeks’ of the new platform. We will also be producing an FAQ page for members to help you explore and make the most of the new website. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact us at editor@step.org