Contact: Caitlin Graf, The Nation, publicity [at] bookforum.com / press [at] thenation.com, 212-209-54001

New York, N.Y.—June 22, 2023—Artforum, a lynchpin of the contemporary art world since 1962, and The Nation, America’s leading source of progressive politics and culture since 1865, today announced the resurrection of Bookforum under The Nation’s stewardship. The first issue of the relaunched quarterly will appear in August 2023.2

Under the leadership of Nation president Bhaskar Sunkara and editorial director and publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel, The Nation will facilitate the continuation of Bookforum with the steadfast intention of honoring the quarterly’s legacy, voice, and dedicated community of writers and readers. As of June 2023, The Nation will acquire Bookforum’s archives and intellectual property and will resume its publication with the magazine’s full existing editorial team. Editorial operations will remain separate from The Nation, which will continue to publish its award-winning “Books and the Arts” section in the back of the book and at TheNation.com.3

Founded in 1994 as the literary sister publication to Artforum, Bookforum was a leading voice of US literary criticism, covering the best in new fiction, nonfiction, current affairs, and the arts until December 2022. (At that time, Artforum was acquired as a standalone publication by Penske Media Corporation; Bookforum was not part of that acquisition.) Deemed “a vital bellwether of book culture” by The New Yorker and a “haven from culture war and dwindling standards of intellectual discourse” by The Washington Post, Bookforum has long spotlighted emerging authors and offered fresh takes on classic works. Through reviews, interviews, and essays, the magazine and Bookforum.com will continue to publish dynamic, smart coverage of cultural trends.4

“Bookforum has been an important publication for decades and we’re looking forward to helping it continue on into the future,” said The Nation’s Sunkara.5

“The Nation has lifted up the vital importance of independent thought, at all times, but especially these—and Bookforum’s commitment to open-minded cultural dialogue is a synergistic complement to our work,” added vanden Heuvel.6

“We are thrilled to have such a respected and value-aligned new home for Bookforum with The Nation,” said Kate Koza, Artforum’s associate publisher. “Bookforum is an essential publication within the literary landscape, and its editorial team is unmatched in their thoughtfulness, curation, and voice. We are grateful to The Nation for enabling this incredible team of editors and writers to continue the magazine’s mission.”7

“We are eternally grateful to Tony Korner and the former publishers for launching and supporting this beloved literary publication. We are so pleased that Bookforum will be in the hands of dedicated stewards,” added Artforum publisher Danielle McConnell. “We wish them, the editorial team, and the contributors the very best in Bookforum’s next chapter.”8

“Danielle was instrumental in the creation of Bookforum in 1994, and in recent years she, Tony, and Kate have been integral to the magazine’s success,” said Michael Miller, who will remain editor in chief of the relaunched publication. “They made the magazine possible, and for that, we are incredibly grateful. They also really care about Bookforum and its future, and we appreciate their hard work in finding an excellent home for the magazine.”9

For interview requests or further information, please see contact information above.10

ABOUT: Founded by abolitionists in 1865, The Nation has chronicled the breadth and depth of political and cultural life from the debut of the telegraph to the rise of Twitter, serving as a critical, independent, and progressive voice in American journalism. For decades, The Nation has devoted a considerable portion of its pages to books and the arts—publishing some of the smartest essays and criticism around. In addition to this in-depth regular coverage, twice a year, we devote special double issues to books and the arts—featuring in-depth analysis and trenchant writing on ideas, culture, music, history, film, and politics by some of the country’s leading writers and intellectuals.11

Since its first issue in the summer of 1994, Bookforum has been staking out new territory in the world of book reviews, inviting authors to address books and cultural trends with curiosity, critical insight, and a distinctive personality. Throughout, Bookforum has given voice to smart, original writers as they consider emerging authors and shed new light on well-known works.12

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