On March 4th, 2024, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI), in collaboration with Beck&Stone, successfully launched the new Modern Age website. As the Director of Marketing for ISI, I was tasked with overseeing this significant project. After several months of dedicated effort, we were able to launch a website that we are proud of—one that is already making a significant impact.
The History of Modern Age Journal
Modern Age is one of the most storied conservative journals, founded by the esteemed Russell Kirk in 1957. It quickly became a cornerstone for intellectual conservatives, providing a platform for the exchange and debate of ideas. The journal’s pages have featured contributions from an impressive roster of thought leaders, including Russell Kirk, Richard Weaver, Frank Meyer, Harry Jaffa, Murray Rothbard, M.E. Bradford, Ludwig von Mises, Willmoore Kendall, and many other influential minds. Its editorial lineage includes figures like Eugene Davidson, David S. Collier, George A. Panichas, R.V. Young, and Peter Augustine Lawler, all of whom have contributed to the journal’s prestigious reputation.
Given this illustrious history, our task was clear: the new website had to reflect the legacy of Modern Age while positioning it for continued influence in the digital era.
Website Build
Russell Kirk was renowned for his appreciation of beauty, and it was essential that the new Modern Age website embodied this value. The site needed to be more than just functional; it had to be aesthetically pleasing and convey a sense of dignity and gravitas. To achieve this, we dedicated significant time to the design process, paying meticulous attention to every detail—from selecting fonts and colors to redesigning the logo. In fact, we were so committed to getting it right that we redesigned the lead article layout just three weeks before the launch.
From a technical standpoint, the website was built on WordPress, utilizing the full suite of Automattic plugins. Two key features of the site set it apart. First, as Modern Age remains a print magazine, we needed to integrate a seamless subscription process. Second, we wanted to implement an automated daily email that would prompt subscribers to engage with that day’s featured article.
Historically, Modern Age had relied on authorize.net for transactions, but we decided to modernize by transitioning to Stripe. Integrating the Stripe API with our WordPress site was straightforward, thanks to the expertise of Chris Rudski, the Director of Technology for Beck&Stone.
The daily email feature was established using an RSS feed and MailChimp. With Chris’s assistance, we created an RSS feed that captured all the necessary information. We then leveraged MailChimp’s RSS-to-email functionality to automate the distribution of these emails, which are now sent out promptly every Monday through Friday at 12 PM Eastern.
Wrapping Up
I am incredibly proud of the final outcome of the Modern Age website. Although the project took longer than anticipated, the launch was seamless and received positive feedback. Given the journal’s prestigious reputation, there were high expectations for the website, and I believe we have exceeded them.