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'''The Watchtower''' () is a semi-monthly illustrated religious magazine, printed and published by Jehovah's Witnesses via the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania in Wallkill, Ulster County, New York and branch offices around the world. This title come from Isaiah 21:8. It is known worldwide as the major publication (along with its companion magazine, ''Awake!'') distributed by Jehovah's Witnesses in their door-to-door ministry.

Contents

Purpose

History

Distribution

Editions

Content

Authorship

External links

References

Purpose

''The Watchtower'' is used by Jehovah's Witnesses in their public preaching. The inside cover page of each issue has the following mission statement:
The magazine is also a major vehicle of communication from the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses to the association as a whole regarding doctrine and organizational procedures.

History

The publication was started by Charles Taze Russell on July 1, 1879 under the title '''Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence'''. The first issue stated as its prospectus:
In 1909 the name was changed to '''The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence'''. In 1920, the Watchtower Society reprinted all the issues from 1879-1919 in seven volumes. This set is known as ''Watchtower Reprints'', which has itself been reprinted through the years by other groups. Later on, in October 1939, the magazine was renamed '''The Watchtower and Herald of Christ's Presence''', and, from March 1940 until now, its full name has been '''The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom'''.
In the past, ''The Watchtower'' and its companion ''Awake!'' were sold for a small charge, varying over time and from country to country.
However, on January 17, 1990, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that sales of religious literature were subject to taxation, which would have required the Watchtower Society to pay tax on the price of the magazines. The Watchtower Society filed an amicus curiae ("friend of the court") brief arguing that the sale of religious literature should be exempt from taxation. ^[1]
From March 1, 1990, the journals were made available at no cost, on a freewill donation basis in the United States. This has helped to simplify their Bible educational work and to separate themselves from those who commercialize religion. The article "Use Our Literature Wisely" which appeared in the May 1990 ''Our Kingdom Ministry'' stated, that "there are growing pressures against all religious elements" and it went on to say that their main concern was to move ahead in the worldwide Kingdom preaching work, "without hindrance."
The sale of the literature around the world was gradually eliminated soon thereafter. It continued until the early 1990s, and in some places until early 2000. ''The Watchtower'' is now distributed free of charge worldwide, its printing being funded by voluntary donations.

Distribution

''The Watchtower'' has an average print run (according to the July 1, 2007 issue) of 28,578,000 and is printed semimonthly in 96 languages (including Braille editions) and monthly in another 65 (including video sign languages) for a total of 161 languages. Over 130 of these languages are published simultaneously including English, German, Swedish, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, Indonesian, Hindi, and Zulu . ^[2]
The magazine is distributed by Jehovah's Witnesses. They consider their work a public service. Witnesses commonly offer these magazines in the course of their house-to-house ministry. They are also distributed by approaching people in public places or informally to doctors, academics, politicians and acquaintances. ''The Watchtower'' may also be seen left as reading material in public places, including bus terminals, laundromats or other places. Distribution practices such as mailbox drops and placing large stacks in public places are strongly discouraged by the Watchtower Society.

Editions

Over the years, Jehovah's Witnesses have added a variety of editions of the magazine, with a view to making it available to a wider public. In 1976, ''The Watchtower'' became available in Grade II English Braille. In 1988, it began to be produced on audio cassette for the benefit of the visually impaired as well as others who wished to listen to it. In 2003, a videocassette edition (of main study articles) in American Sign Language was produced, and this was extended to DVD in 2004. The Watchtower is now released monthly in American Sign Language on DVD. Select articles are available at their official website (www.watchtower.org). Additionally, 2004 saw the release of ''The Watchtower'' on compact disc (MP3 and later audio CD format). In 2006, a DVD edition of ''The Watchtower'' was made available in Brazilian Sign Language, and a Mexican Sign Language edition is now available.

Content

Until recent times, each issue has contained two or three study articles based on Scripture. This will continue until January 2008, at which time the first issue of each month will not contain study articles, while the second issue will contain all the study articles (four or five). The second issue will only be stocked at the Kingdom Halls and will not be available to the public. Virtually all of the Jehovah's Witness communities throughout the earth discuss the same information each week at the "Watchtower Study". In this meeting a designated reader will read each paragraph aloud, after which the Conductor asks the question printed at the bottom of the page for that paragraph; a few minutes (depending on the subject matter) are alloted for the members of the congregation to answer the questions using the information read in the paragraph as a starting point. They are encouraged to put the information in their own words and also to "draw attention to scripture application, supporting arguments, or practical application of the material."^[3]
A typical issue usually includes topics such as Bible prophecy, Christian conduct and morals, as well as the history of religion and the Bible.
Regular sections include "Life Story" and "Questions from Readers" (usually in alternating issues), and "Would You Welcome a Visit?" The February 1 issue contains the Witnesses' worldwide "Field Service" report (previously January 1 issue until 2004). Every four months, a section entitled "Do You Remember?" briefly summarizes points from recent issues of the magazine. The November 1 issue contains an article outlining the various ways that donations can be made to ''The Watchtower''.
Beginning issue in January 1, 2008, ''The Watchtower'' will have different focuses in the two issues that are published each month. The issue published on the first of each month will focus on religious articles that will be offered to the general public. The issue published on the fifteenth of each month will contain the congregational study articles for the month and other intra-organizational materials that will be directed to current members and other interested ones and will not be offered to the general public actively like the public edition will be.
''The Watchtower's'' subtitle, "Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom," indicates its interest in eschatology, which has frequently been a topic for discussion within its pages.

Authorship

There is a writing committee within the WBTS that oversees the research, editing, and development of the articles. The articles are mostly contributed by writing committees within the branch offices worldwide, which are then checked by a team of editors for accuracy, grammar, spelling, etc., and then translated into the languages of publication by other teams. Women are permitted to write articles provided that are not of a spiritual nature. ^[4] The names of the authors (except in most first-person life stories), editors, etc. are never included in the final magazine, though all articles are produced under the authority of the Governing Body, and therefore the content is considered the official position of the organization.

External links

★ ''Watchtower'' and ''Awake!'' articles adapted for the Internet (Jehovah's Witnesses: Watchtower Society Official Web Site)

★ Unofficial Searchable Database of Watchtower Reprints from 1879 thru 1916.

★ PDFs of the ''Watchtower'' magazine from 1879-1949

References

1. [1]
2. 15May 2007 issue, page 2
3. ''Our Kingdom Ministry'' December 1998 p. 8 Overseers Taking the Lead—The Watchtower Study Conductor
4. ''Branch Organization Manual'' p.24-1 Paragraph 4
“4. Those used as writers must be dedicated, baptized brothers or sisters in good standing with their local congregations and who have writing ability. They should be exemplary, modest, not inclined to talk loosely to others about their writing activity. ... 5. PREPARING MATERIAL: The subjects on which articles may be written are quite varied. Some articles will deal with spiritual matters, and these should be written by brothers.”