French correction

Sir, I’m sure you are inundated with feedback on the relaunch.

I’d like to stress that I have been, and will continue to be, a loyal reader and that I’m not another ageing ultra-conservative. Indeed, I learned to read courtesy of the title in the early 1970s.

However, I feel that there still remains considerable work to do. As a professional in the media business, I question your logic of moving to what appears to be a very ‘me-too’ cover layout — I tend to believe that page two of the October 2004 issue would actually be more arresting on-shelf than page one. And there’s a real weakness in the Art Direction; the font choices and mixes, and the cropping and layout of many of the photographs is confusing. Even my 11-year-old son agrees, so it’s not just the middle-aged.

Despite this tirade, I wish you success. Just tidy it up!

Julian Smallwood, Paris, France