Leader Publications’ annual special section Horizons, which will be released Thursday, will have a distinctly different look this year.

Gone are the bulky broadsheet format and multiple sections. In its place is a more compact, full-color, 114-page magazine with more photos and graphics.

“It’s a more modern-looking magazine piece,” said Michael Bennett, publisher of Leader Publications. “We wanted to have more fun with it.”

The publication features stories about people in southwest Michigan shaping the landscape of the region. Divided into six sections — agriculture, education, people helping people, business, trends and social networking — Horizons 2012 looks at everything from Zumba classes and healthy eating to the medical marijuana craze and boom of the craft beer industry in Michigan.

“Even in tough times like right now, there are a lot of good, interesting things going on. Horizons is a wonderful place to highlight that and share community pride,” Bennett said.

Bennett said Horizons offers a peak into more upcoming changes for the newspapers of Leader Publications. A new tab format and fresh redesign

for the publications will be on the way in the spring.

Horizons, now in its 31st year, will be inserted in copies of the Niles Daily Star, Dowagiac Daily News, Edwardsburg Argus and Cassopolis Vigilant and available on newsstands Thursday.