The Watchtower (magazine)

The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom is a magazine religious publication published simultaneously, according to its own data, in 419 languages, with an average quarterly printing of around 36.3 million copies in different formats (figures estimated for 2022). It is edited by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania and distributed by Jehovah's Witnesses as part of their proselytizing work, which is supported by donations.

It is, along with Awake!, one of the most widely distributed magazines in the world.

History

This publication began its edition on July 1, 1879 with the name Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence (which in Spanish would be La Torre of the Watcher of Zion and Herald of the Presence of Christ) and together with a circulation of 6,000 copies. The purpose of the magazine was discussed in the first issue:

As its name indicates, this has the purpose of being the viewpoint from where to be announced to the 'small bow' matters of interest and profit, and as Herald of the Presence of Christ, give 'food time due' to 'house of faith'.

In 1909, the title was changed to The Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence. The title The Watch Tower was selected by Russell. The word usually used in the Old Testament for "watchtower" or "watchtower."

In 1920, the Watchtower Society reprinted all of its editions between 1879 and 1919 in 7 volumes known as Watchtower Reprints. As of January 1, 1939 (in the Spanish edition since October of the same year), the title changed to The Watchtower and Herald of Christ's Kingdom (La Torre del Vigía y Heraldo del Kingdom of Christ). Then, on March 1 of the same year, it changed its name to The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom (which was reflected in Spanish in November, when the title changed to La Atalaya. Announcing the Kingdom of Jehovah), name that it maintains today. In its beginnings, this magazine contained the emblem of the cross and crown on its covers, which they later removed when they rejected the use of this symbol.

Distribution

Published without interruption since 1879. Currently, it is distributed simultaneously in some 302 languages according to Jehovah's Witnesses, with an average circulation of 61,651,000 copies.

Starting in January 2008, it has been published monthly for the public. The issues of the first of each month are for distribution to the general public, and the issues of the 15th of each month present study articles for Jehovah's Witnesses that serve for analysis on biblical topics in their meetings. Starting in January 2013, the study edition of the The Watchtower began to be published in simple language, which is provided for children and adults with difficulty to understand the language due to various circumstances. This edition was discontinued, in Spanish, in June 2017.

In 2016 the magazine went from monthly to bimonthly and alternated with the magazine Despertad!. In 2018, it became quarterly. It continues alternating with Awake!.

The study edition of the magazine maintains its monthly circulation with study articles and other specific ones for the Witnesses or students who attend the meetings.