This millennial edition has hopefully avoided the “bug” and marks a turning point for Heart. We have a new editorial team, a new cover, the beginning of a new rolling continuing medical education programme (see page 110), as well as changes in the type and format of articles both in the paper and electronic versions (eHeart; www.heartjnl.com).

During his time as editor, Professor Michael Davies improvedHeart immensely. He took over as Editor of the British Heart Journal in 1992 and retired as the Editor of Heart in 1999. This change in title was accomplished so smoothly that some readers have still not noticed. It has positioned Heartas a journal that could take its place on the international stage. I see it as important that the journal should remain a voice of British cardiology while avoiding being parochial in its content.

There has probably never been a more daunting or exciting time to take over the editorship of a scientific journal. The extent to which electronic publishing and the growth of the internet will impact on paper journals is unknown, but it is certain there will be revolutionary changes and some believe the very existence of journals such as Heart is threatened.

The immediate advantage of committing ourselves wholeheartedly to the new technologies is to speed up and improve the dissemination of information. The major downside is the potential loss of quality control in a free for all to get information “up on the …