Taking advantage of the economies of scale, Habitat World is printed by Quebecor World--one of the world's largest printers--at its plant in Olive Branch, Miss.

Behind the Scenes:
Habitat World: A Look Back, A Look Ahead

Longtime readers of Habitat World might recall a much different format from that which reveals itself in these pages. For the first 10 years, Habitat World looked and felt more like a newspaper than a magazine. Today, those early issues are folded comfortably in our archives, fading in degrees of yellow as they preserve the accomplishments, struggles and history of the organization--its volunteers, its staff, its donors ... its homeowners.

As the publication evolved into a magazine, some readers asked if the cost of the more colorful product diverted funds that could be used for house building. Truth be told, with a strong commitment to good stewardship, and through effective vendor partnerships and responsible publication management, we publish Habitat World today at a per-piece cost that is no more than that of the two-color newsprint version of the early 1990s.

Without question, it takes money to produce a magazine such as Habitat World, but Habitat for Humanity International is committed to raising awareness about poverty housing and of Habitat's work around the world to overcome it. And we believe the return on such an investment exceeds the tangible measurements of paper, postage and press runs.

With each issue, we strive to improve on the one that came before, to lend a face to poverty, a voice to the poor, and to inspire Habitat World readers to take action on behalf of those enduring the hardships of substandard housing.

Today, photographs appear on these pages more colorfully; the design is more modern, the editorial content more thematic. However, we editors--like those before us--remain committed to Habitat World's integrity and credibility, to its quality and educational value. Most importantly, we are accountable to you, the readers, whose compassion, generosity and participation drive this movement to build more houses with more families in more communities around the world.

Some things never change.

--Shawn Reeves