Since 1957, with some exceptions, the Braille Monitor has been published in print, Braille, and audio formats eleven times a year. Issues in those formats were mailed to subscribers for most of that time, but soon after we established our website, we began publishing the magazine online as well and making it available as an email to subscribers who opted in.
Today, subscribers can still receive hardcopy Braille and print editions and emails, and the audio edition is available as a thumb drive mailed to readers, online, and as a podcast. Our magazine can also be read on NFB-NEWSLINE®. In short, while remaining consistent, the Braille Monitor has also evolved with changing times and new methods of distribution.
Braille Monitor Early Access is our latest effort to continue that evolution. As of now, we will make an effort to publish new, relevant content and connect to other timely Federation resources, such as our press room, on the section of our website dedicated to the flagship magazine of our movement.
While we will not compromise truthfulness and accuracy in posting this content, our aim is to make the Braille Monitor the go-to source for the most current information about the Federation and the blind community. We will do this in a manner that is consistent both with our own standards and the standards of modern journalism. As some stories develop, we may update them, and we will clearly indicate when we have done so.
Many stories that appear in Early Access will also appear in the “regular” publication, but they may be different from how they originally appeared here, and if so we will clearly indicate that. Some other content may be exclusive to this page, depending on whether it is still relevant when the next regular issue goes out. But all of it will be Braille Monitor content that conforms to the quality and standards that our readers expect.
In his article introducing me as the new editor of this magazine in our December 2024 issue, President Riccobono said:
“As we move to a new editor, we have another opportunity to rethink and reformulate how our flagship publication represents our aspirations for the future. If we do it right, in twenty years, the Braille Monitor will be the source of accurate information for how we dealt with the pressing issues we face today. Furthermore, it will serve as a reliable measuring stick for the progress we have made as it has since 1957.”
The new Early Access feature seeks to advance and enhance those goals. The communications team who helped make this a reality, particularly my colleagues Erin Rodney and our team lead Stephanie Cascone, join me in looking forward to your feedback on this feature, as well as on all of our content and on other innovations we might make to enhance the voice, reach, and power of our flagship magazine. Reach out to me directly at [email protected], or shoot an email to [email protected]. Happy reading!