— Ch. 1 · Founding And Early Years —
MIT Technology Review.
~9 min read · Ch. 1 of 7
The Technology Review first appeared in January 1899 as a quarterly magazine published by the Association of Class Secretaries at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A New York Times review from that month described its cover, paper, and typography as matching the strong characteristics of the institution it represented. The editors announced their goal to create a clearing house of information and thought while increasing the institute's power and minimizing waste. James Rhyne Killian began his career path with this publication when he graduated from college in 1926 and took a job as assistant managing editor. He eventually rose to become editor-in-chief before serving as executive assistant to MIT president Karl Taylor Compton in 1939. Killian later became vice-president of MIT in 1945 and succeeded Compton as president in 1949. The 4th of May 1929 issue featured an article by Dr. Norbert Wiener who was then an Assistant Professor of Mathematics. Wiener used that space to describe deficiencies in a paper Albert Einstein had published earlier that year. He also commented on theological discussions regarding the Einstein theory without prejudice to religion. The historical magazine often published articles that were controversial or critical of certain technologies. An August 1980 issue contained an article by Jerome Wiesner attacking the Reagan administration's nuclear defense strategy. The cover of a 1983 issue stated even if the fusion program produces a reactor no one will want it. That issue contained an article by Lawrence M. Lidsky challenging the feasibility of fusion power which at the time was often fancied to be just around the corner. In 1966 the magazine started using a puzzle column started in Tech Engineering News a few months earlier. Its author is Allan Gottlieb who has now written the column for more than fifty years.
Commercial Relaunch Strategy
A radical transition of the magazine occurred in 1996 when Technology Review lost $1.6 million over the previous seven years. The Boston Business Journal reported the publication was facing the possibility of folding due to years of declining advertising revenue. R. Bruce Journey was named publisher as the first full-time publisher in the magazine's history. Previous publisher William J. Hecht stated the purpose of appointing Journey was to enhance its commercial potential and secure a prominent place for Technology Review in the competitive world of commercial publishing. John Benditt replaced Steven J. Marcus as editor-in-chief and the entire editorial staff was fired before the modern Technology Review was born. Boston Globe columnist David Warsh analogized the old TR with beloved departed Cambridge eateries like the F&T Deli. Warsh described the transition by saying that the magazine had been serving up old 1960s views of things: humanist, populist, ruminative, suspicious of the unseen dimensions of new technologies. It was now replaced with one that takes innovation seriously and enthusiastically. Former editor Marcus characterized the magazine's new stance as cheerleading for innovation. Under Bruce Journey, Technology Review billed itself as MIT's Magazine of Innovation since 2001. It has been published by Technology Review Inc., a nonprofit independent media company owned by MIT. Intending to appeal to business leaders, editor John Benditt said in 1999 they were really about new technologies and how they get commercialized. The magazine covers breakthroughs and current issues on fields such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, and computing. Articles are also devoted to more mature disciplines such as energy, telecommunications, transportation, and the military. By 2003 circulation had more than tripled from 92,000 to 315,000. This included 220,000 paid subscribers and 95,000 sent free to MIT alumni. In August 2003 a German edition of Technology Review was started in cooperation with the publishing house Heinz Heise. Its circulation reached about 50,000 as of 2005.