As reported by David Carr in today's NYT, Roger D. Hodge has been named to succeed Lewis Lapham as editor of Harper's Magazine. Hodge (or "Rog Hodge" as we shall now unoriginally dub him) is the current deputy editor, a nine-year veteran of the magazine representiing a safe, solid choice.

So - who is Rog Hodge and what will become of Harper's?

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss:

"It will be the same magazine," he said. "We are not going to tear up a good format that is working. I don't have so much vanity that I think I have to walk in and put my stamp on it."

Meet the new boss' boss, publisher John R. MacArthur: "I think it is very important to ramp up the journalism in the magazine and develop a more serious presence in Washington," he said.

...but either way, this should help a lot when putting together the Index:

Mr. Hodge was born and raised in Del Rio, Tex., and as the son of a rancher knows his way around cattle, sheep and a gun.

And finally, always look on the bright side of life:

"This is a great time to be editing a magazine," he said. "There is a global war on terror, a war in Iraq and we have a presidential administration that is collapsing. And we don't seem to have any politicians that know what to do about it.

Harper's Set to Name its Next Editor [NYT]

Yesterday's conjecture, today:
Who's Next at Harper's? [Encyclopedia Hanasiana]