As part of our series ‘Frontiers of Innovation’ we spoke with Rev. Laurie Stuart about how civic journalism – through a ministry lens – can transform communities.
Q: You own and operate a newspaper called the River Reporter, what goes into that and what’s your sphere of influence?
We publish a weekly in-print paper and we have an online presence as well. We’re also sending out two newsletters a week. Our readership covers a seventy-three mile stretch of the Upper Delaware River valley (between the NE corner of Pennsylvania and the southern tier of New York) and encompasses many small towns and townships. In addition to local coverage, we’ve also recently been tackling larger stories with regional impact.
Q: I have to say, running a newspaper is a pretty unique expression of one’s ministry. Can you share a bit about your background and how you came to be involved in this project?
It’s interesting that you call it my project because in one sense it's my life. I have been working at the newspaper since 1978, since I graduated college, so it's been my whole adult life. Alongside my work with the newspaper, I was a singer, songwriter, artist, and born-and-raised Unitarian Universalist, who was very, very active in my church and congregations. After 27 years of this work, I asked myself “what am I really doing here?” and I realized in that moment that it was a community ministry for me. So, in 2003, I began exploring ministry and in 2006 began an eleven-year path of becoming a fully ordained Unitarian Universalist minister.
Q: Some may find it surprising that you see local journalism as a ministry – what might you say to them?
The work you’re doing with the Religious Innovators Program is certainly changing this paradigm, but for the longest time you were either a parish minister or a chaplain. That was it. So newspaper work didn’t fit in. But I thought that was a little surprising because the early Unitarians who were effecting social change were publishers, so it didn’t make sense to me. In a way then, I’ve been working to revive this important part of our history.
Q: That’s right, I never really thought of it that way. Publishing really can play a major role in shaping social change.
Exactly, and as times change the role of newspapers is changing as well. Increasingly the new emerging role model for newspapers is to facilitate civil and civic dialog among people who do not get along. This is a key skill of ministerial leadership too. So it turned out that I was training for precisely the skill that would be needed – although I didn't know it at the time.
Q: In hindsight it must really feel like serendipity. Now that you’ve gained that ministry lens, how to do think anew about your work and how it serves others?
In a way you could call the readers of the River Reporter a congregation of sorts. Embodying the newspaper as a ministry means manifesting the UU value of ‘many paths to the truth.’ My guiding questions have become ‘what are their values and what is motivating them?’ and ‘how do we bring people together who do not have the same ideology?’ Our aspiration is to encourage reflection about one’s values, to hold space for diverse voices, and to connect people to talk to each other across lines of difference. Effective UU ministry need not exclusively be within a congregation. In fact, we believe the greater community of our readership is the best place for this dialogue.
Q: That’s right. Unlike the traditional congregation, I can see how your readership would reflect much more diverse political and social perspectives. And when you have a diverse readership, there really is a potential to influence important local issues.
There is that potential. When it’s done right, you're giving people more information so they can be more respectful of the interdependent web. To that end, we are lifting up prophetic voices in our communities by highlighting people and their stories. But the work we do goes beyond just editorial and opinion. For example, we have a sustainability section that runs every quarter. It shows how civic journalism can have a real impact.
Q: Can you share an example of this type of impact?
Certainly. The Delaware River supplies 16 million people with fresh water, but its care and upkeep are divided among stakeholders in both Pennsylvania and New York. These are folks who have similar jobs but are never in the same room together. So we developed the Upper Delaware Roundtable to bring together different stakeholders for a 3-hour meeting every other month. There was no mission statement except to help facilitate conversation to enhance the Upper Delaware. That's it. And nobody had to give up what they believed in, they were just asked to offer it up to the group as a gift.
Q: Wow – I feel like those neutral environments are increasingly rare these days.
In fact, we were chosen by a think tank in Washington to vet a report they were doing about Marcellus Shale (which is fracking) – a very contentious issue as you know. And our group was chosen to be that neutral place of discussion. We had participants from the gas company, as well as anti-fracking activists, doctors who could speak to health impacts, etc. I’m proud of that diverse participant list. Three years later, as an outgrowth of the conversations we started, New York State banned fracking for health reasons. That’s just one example of civic journalism having a real, meaningful impact.
Q: It sounds like connecting different people is a big part of what you do?
It is, but it’s not only about connecting people who disagree, it’s also about bringing awareness to systems. By this I mean we serve an important role in connecting the dots of changing demographics, changing economic policies, etc. We create a lens through which social inequity can be more fully understood and social justice can be more effectively pursued.
Q: What do you find challenging about this work?
I think the same challenge that’s happening with newspapers is what’s happening with congregations. People are increasingly thinking that they don’t need a church community. People think, ‘I get community and information from Facebook, or Instagram, so how is what you’re offering relevant to me?’ In this sense, it can feel like pushing a rock up a hill.
Q: That is an interesting way to look at it. Newspapers, congregations, and I'm sure other institutions are in this constant race for relevance. A race made especially difficult by a technology environment that’s exponentially vying for everyone’s attention.
It is a challenge, but I don’t want to overstate the obstacles. It bears repeating that I see this as a very viable medium to effect social change, to build resilience in communities, and to foster a sense of place, all of which are hugely important. Newspapers have this capability of revealing the connections in the system. And if you believe in systems theory, then when the system becomes more aware of itself, that is the place of transformation.
Q: So do you see the type of work you’re doing as replicable by other religious leaders?
Not only is it possible, I think the future of Unitarian Universalism requires it. We need to go back to our publishing roots. Moreover ministers are cut out for this. Their training of understanding how systems work, their being pretty good writers and pretty good thinkers, and their being able to motivate people to a mission are all assets. It’s all there, ministers got this.
Q: It really does sound like this type of work is in the ministry wheelhouse. But isn’t it hard to launch and sustain a newspaper?
It is, yes, but it doesn't have to take our exact form with staff, a print paper, mailing costs, etc. There are amazing models of people accomplishing a lot in their communities by starting low-cost electronic newsletters. For ministers looking at how to make the biggest impact during this time of great disruption and chaos, publishing is it. There's a great opportunity to help the systems in which they live to become more aware of itself and really effect change.
Q: How can people learn more about, and support, the work you’re doing?
People are certainly welcome to check out our website to get a sense of the work we’re doing, keeping in mind that our stories are locally focused. Beyond that though, I would love to seed and perpetuate the discussion about whether or not publishing and journalism can play a larger role in the future of Unitarian Universalism because it’s such a viable means of effecting the community.