When is a magazine an annual report?

There's no trademark on the word "magazine", of course, and a lot of people trade on the inherent trust and entertainment values of magazines. Think of some "custom publications" and magalogues. However, we had always thought that an "annual magazine" was something of an oxymoron; that a magazine needed to be a periodical. However, the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Western Ontario has produced an annual publication, Rapport, which promotes the schools and the work done there.

Dean Carol Herbert says: "The stories in this magazine represent a small sample of the work done at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, but we feel it's time we started sharing more of our stories with you."

In the inaugural edition, feature stories include Margaret Chan talking about the onerous task of establishing vital connections across the globe to tackle the worldwide risk of a flu pandemic; dentistry students learning to improve communication skills with patients; role models in research and teaching; students making an impact in Africa; and an outreach program inspiring rural youth to pursue careers in health.

Rapport has been sent to over 7,000 medicine and dentistry alumni, partners and friends and the "magazine" can be read online here. You be the judge. Magazine? Brochure? Annual report? Or does it matter?