Who Are The NewPeople?

The answer, spoiler alert, is you the reader. This article is about how The NewPeople Editorial Collective, that’s us, puts The NewPeople editions together and how you can contribute.

The Collective typically meets three times a month. Near the first of each month the Collective reviews what activities Thomas Merton Center (TMC) members are undertaking as well as what is going on in the larger world regarding peace and social justice. In this meeting, we select topics and assign writers from among the Collective to the extent we can. We often call upon members of the Center who have some knowledge of the topics to write articles. Sometimes, a topic is assigned to an intern, who will then do the research needed before writing up the article. At this time, we have four interns from various colleges and universities in the area.

We also receive and welcome unsolicited submissions from members/readers by the 13th of each month. That is a firm date in order that Marni, the newspaper coordinator, doesn’t have to pull an all nighter to get it done.

Now, for submissions: We have some standards for submissions. No single article can be more than 750 words and one person may submit up to two articles per issue.We ask that articles be submitted through the Merton Center website, a somewhat laborious process, but it works well on this end. The submission process will reject the article if it is over 800 words. A long article can be divided, and continued in the following issue. Small blurbs and photos about TMC project related events are very welcome. Poetry is a popular submission as well. Photos can also be submitted in this way. Submissions by e-mail tend to go astray. Note the guidelines for submissions are included on the website on the right of the submission form.

Articles are then assigned to two or more Collective members for review and editing. This can get interesting; we consider the relevance of a topic - whether or not it has been covered previously- and if it falls within the mission of the Merton Center and is of interest to the readers. We edit for clarity, grammar and punctuation, and make every effort to keep intact the style and intent of the writer.

Shortly after the deadline of the 13th, the Collective meets again. This time the members will report back to the Collective on the articles they have reviewed. We discuss the appropriateness of the article for possible inclusion in the next edition, subject to timeliness and space availability. If an article is not included, we try to let the writer know. Sometimes we slip up on this, in spite of good intentions.

Marni Fritz, Thomas Mulholland and TMC interns then lay out the selected articles for proofing. The Collective meets the third time to proof the articles and hopefully catch anything that may have been missed in the process. Marni and Neil Cosgrove, co-chair of the Collective, provide the final proofing, layout and headlines.

Marni then ships the product out for printing, After about a week it comes back to TMC for distribution.

How can you help? First we are in need of reporters to cover stories, especially stories about TMC related activities. We could use more articles on art and cultural subjects that tie in with interests of the readers. Second we need help in distribution, both identifying places willing to display our newspaper as well as physically delivering the paper to the locations each month. Third, we like feedback, and welcome letters to the editor and opinion pieces.

Members of the Editorial Collective are: Neil Cosgrove and Michael Drohan (co-chairs), Paola Corso, Russ Fedorka, Marni Fritz, Nijah Glenn, Robert Jedrzejewski, Jim McCarville, Bette McDevitt, Thomas Mulholland, Joyce Rothermel, Molly Rush, and Jo Tavener.

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