New Humanist

*New Humanist*
Editor	Niki Seth-Smith
Deputy Editor	Jessica Abrahams
Contributing Editors	Kenan Malik, Suzanne Moore, Alom Shaha, Jonathan Rée
Categories	Humanism, rationalism
Frequency	Quarterly
Publisher	The Rationalist Association
Founded	1885 (under the name Watts's Literary Guide)
Country	United Kingdom
Based in	London
Language	English
Website	newhumanist.org.uk
ISSN	0306-512X

New Humanist is a quarterly^[1] magazine, published by the Rationalist Association in the UK,^[2] that focuses on culture, news, philosophy, and science from a sceptical perspective.^[3]

History

The New Humanist has been in print for more than 131 years; starting out life as Watts's Literary Guide, founded by C. A. Watts in November 1885.^[4] It later became The Literary Guide and Rationalist Review (1894–1954), Humanist (1956–1971) and the New Humanist in 1972.^[5]

Notable columnists have included Laurie Taylor,^[6] Simon Hoggart^[7] and Sally Feldman.^[8]

In 2003 Hazhir Teimourian, a reviewer for the magazine, quit over a controversial cartoon depicting Christ slumped in the arms of the Virgin Mary.^[9]

Jim Herrick was editor of New Humanist from 1984 until 2002, and subsequently became the journal’s literary editor until his retirement in 2005.^[10] From 2002 until 2005 the magazine's editor was Frank Jordans.^[11] In 2005 Caspar Melville took over as managing editor of the magazine and CEO of the Rationalist Association.^[12] Daniel Trilling assumed the position of Editor in 2013.^[13] Samira Shackle became editor in spring 2020. Niki Seth-Smith is the current editor, having assumed the position in spring 2023.

References

^ "Ten reasons why you should read the relaunched New Humanist". Rationalist Association. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
^ James Heartfield (28 October 2005). "Humanist Pupils: The Right Not To Pray". The Times Educational Supplement.
^ "An extremely brief history of New Humanist". Archived from the original on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
^ Alex Johnson (9 February 2006). "Free speech no laughing matter in Britain". MSNBC.
^ Sullivan, Alvin. (1983). British Literary Magazines: The Augustan age and the age of Johnson, 1698-1788. Greenwood Press. p. 198
^ Phil Baty (9 September 2005). "Ignatieff Ducks Debate With Critics In Torture Row". The Times Higher Education Supplement.
^ "Political Pundit Heads to Flintshire". Daily Post. 2 April 2010.
^ Gavin Ross (13 September 2007). "Tom Cruises in all sizes No 3995". New Statesman.
^ Andrew Pierce (25 April 2003). "Religious cartoon draws the anger of atheist writer". The Times.
^ "Humanists UK mourns Jim Herrick (1944-2023)". Humanists UK. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
^ "A Round Up of Some Of Our Other Activities" (PDF). National Secular Society Bulletin. January–February 2005. p. 11. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
^ Caspar Melville (26 December 2009). "I've changed my mind about religion". Guardian Unlimited.
^ "Meet the team". Rationalist Association. Archived from the original on 8 February 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2013.