WSJ is bringing back the print Personal Journal section

Elena Cherney, the editor of news features special projects at The Wall Street Journal, sent out the following on Monday:

Today we are relaunching Personal Journal, a new print section and coverage area to help readers navigate their personal lives in an increasingly complex world.

Inspired by the WSJ’s popular Personal Journal of the past, the new version will offer well-reported columns, feature stories and deep dives on subjects close to readers’ hearts, from consumer health to careers, fitness, relationships, travel and popular culture. PJ will bring the same rigor and authoritative reporting to coverage of these topics that the WSJ brings to coverage of business and markets, helping readers sort through today’s overwhelming media landscape to make informed choices about their daily lives.

In print, the coverage will be organized around four subject areas inside the A section Monday through Thursday: Mondays will focus on Careers & Leadership, incorporating regular contributions from Lynn Cook’s management team. On Tuesdays, we’ll turn to Health & Wellness, with input from Stefanie Ilgenfritz’s health and science group. Wednesdays will be Family & Relationships day, including the popular Bonds and Family & Technology columns. Thursdays will showcase both Travel & Entertainment, including guides to streaming and popular culture.

Digitally, we will publish stories throughout the week on the WSJ platforms, Apple News and social media to reach audiences at the optimum times.

You’ll find familiar favorites like the Middle Seat, Bonds and Your Health columns. We’re also adding new features and columns and freshening up others to give readers plenty to inform and entertain them. Highlights include a new column on Work & Life from Rachel Feintzeig, a revived Science Journal from Lee Hotz on the intersection of science and daily life, a new workout format and a recurring feature on how to reinvent your career.  Stay tuned for additional new columns coming later this summer, as well as a newsletter and live events.

Thank you to the dozens of reporters, editors and visuals colleagues from across the newsroom for their brainstorming, suggestions and encouragement over the past few months, and especially to the Life & Arts team for their hard work and enthusiasm to make this transition happen during the pandemic while everyone has been working from home.

To make the new PJ a success, we’ll be counting on contributions from reporters and editors across the empire on all of our topic areas, so please reach out with your ideas.  We also encourage your input and suggestions if you see ways to improve or enhance our coverage.

Looking forward to collaborating,