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<i>Utne</i> magazine's 'solution journalism' lauded by MediaPost

<i>Utne</i> magazine's 'solution journalism' lauded by MediaPost

Published 01-23-06

Submitted by Utne Magazine

MINNEAPOLIS - How do people recharge and stay committed to their principles in the face of daunting challenges? The cover story in the current issue of Utne magazine - "Calm in the Chaos" - focuses on a coach to spiritual activists and leaders (who works with organizations as diverse as General Motors and Greenpeace) and five community activists who are dedicated to a wide array of social causes, from helping young prison inmates to healing gang violence.

"As we do in every issue of Utne, we try to provide practical solutions to problems many of us face everyday," says Nina Utne, Editor-in-Chief. "Each person we talked to for our cover package fights the battles of burnout, conflict, and often, despair with practices ranging from focused, daily self-reflection to established-faith traditions. We believe this kind of 'solution journalism' from a major independent media source is not only needed in the marketplace of ideas and rapid news cycles, it's necessary to sustain readers and others who are looking for alternative voices that have something to offer the challenges we face."

The new issue has already been lauded by the influential MediaPost, a leading advertising and media Internet portal, for its in-depth news reporting and analysis.

"Utne's thoughtfulness and measured approach makes it one of the few truly worthy titles out there," reports MediaPost contributing writer Larry Dobrow. Even when examining a much-reported topic in this post-9/11 world - how to remain grounded amidst threats of terrorism, flu pandemics and such - Utne "assesses the situation from several perspectives," Dobrow observes. "It presents an essay, a Q&A with an organizational consultant who doubles as a shaman, and first-person pieces in which five activist types share their secrets for staying cool, calm and collected. Utne surrounds the subject and, in doing so, offers an action plan for those inclined to follow it."

And what are some of those insights?

"Having an intimate and living relationship to your own sense of purpose is a renewable, inexhaustible source of energy, from which you can draw over a lifetime of service," explains consultant Robert Gass, a teacher and founder of the Rockwood Leadership Program in an interview with the magazine's Editor-in-Chief.. "It was just such a connection to purpose that sustained Nelson Mandala through his years imprisoned at Robben Island," Gass notes. He invites readers to cultivate a discipline of self-reflection and to practice "state-shifting" to stay centered amidst the intensity of any task and, ultimately, "to be the change we wish to see in the world," as Ghandi advocated.

Spiritual Activism (aka "Fierce Grace")
Writer Kristin Ohlson interviews five community activists from around the country to find out what keeps them grounded amidst frequently dire and dysfunctional situations. These individuals' ability to cope might be called "spiritual activism," and it is used to create real change, both inside and out. In her article, Ohlson profiles:

  • Aqeela Sherrill, 36, the executive director and cofounder of the Community for Self-Determination Institute in Watts, who brokered the 1992 truce between the Crisp and the Bloods, lost his own 18-year-old son to a random shooting in 2004, observes Ramadan and Lent "as a spiritual practice," and recently began the Buddhist sitting meditation

  • Kyra Robinet, 35, who works with San Francisco's at-risk youth in detention and prison systems and focuses on mindfulness meditation and a variety of spiritual practices to avoid "recreating the problem you were trying to solve"

  • Simon Greer, 37, CEO of the Jewish Fund for Justice in New York, whose dedication to fighting the roots of poverty relies on a weekly discussion of the Torah, yoga and meditation, and the benefits of "an honest, loving relationship" with his new wife

  • Karen Mahon, 43, executive director of the Hollyhock Leadership Institute based in Vancouver, who trains individuals and organizations in corporate negotiations, grassroots organizing and other skills, meditates daily "in the shower" and often before meetings with coworkers, makes several spiritual retreats each year, dances, does yoga and sings in a community choir, asserting, "Fierce grace - that's what spiritual activism is"

  • Pat Cane, 64, founder of Capacitar International (which teaches mind-body-spirit wellness, team-building and self-development), who uses daily prayer and meditation, "with time for deep quiet so I can connect with my center and source"

    Also in the new issue:

    "The Beyond Organic spread...It's essential reading for anybody with even an inkling of interest in nutrition and/or the world around him..." Larry Dobrow, Magazine Rack

  • Hot Cocoa and Beyond Organic: "Hot Cocoa," written by Anjula Razdan, looks at how the chocolate industry is moving into the booming dark-chocolate sector but ignoring the multiple benefits of working with fair trade companies and farmers in foreign countries who produce this increasingly in-demand commodity.

    "Beyond Organic" analyzes the rush of multinational industrial agribusinesses to snap up organic food companies like Boca Foods and Arrowhead Mills to drive up profits. But Utne Contributing Editor Joseph Hart contends these giant companies threaten to hijack current standards for organic foods as they undermine farmers, the environment, the consumer and the overall localization of the organic food movement and its value system, which emphasizes social justice and commitment to community.

  • Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans: A first-person essay by Fred Setterberg mourns the dismantling of New Orleans' historic music culture by Hurricane Katrina, while NOLA musician Henry Butler, now living in Boulder, talks about how the scene can be resurrected and actually better serve the city's musicians and wider community interests.

  • The Top 10 Censored Stories of 2005: The alleged Iranian plan to dethrone the U.S. dollar by opening a Euro-based international oil exchange to mining coal on mountaintops with TNT rather than workers, leaving behind sediment-clogged watersheds. . . plus other stories that didn't make headlines in 2005.

    About Utne

    Since 1984, Utne has been a leading voice in independent media, bringing readers a visceral and informed point-of-view on issues ranging from the environment to the economy and from politics to pop culture--the kind of stories you'll find in the mainstream media months or years from now.

    Reaching a total audience of nearly 700,000, Utne taps into the pulse of what's emerging in culture by engaging with the most visionary thinkers and doers of our time and by reading thousands of indie publications, web sites, blogs, newly published books, films and other off-the-beaten-path sources. Read more at www.utne.com.

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    Utne Magazine

    Utne Magazine

    Founded in 1984 by Eric Utne, UTNE READER reprints the best articles from over 2,000 alternative media sources bringing you the latest ideas and trends emerging in our culture... Provocative writing from diverse perspectives... Insightful analysis of art and media... Down-to-earth news and resources you can use... In-depth coverage of compelling people and issues that affect your life... The best of the alternative media.

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