Media Notice

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2004
Contact: Lisa Proctor
Utne Marketing Director
612-338-5040 ext.338

Utne Announces New Editorial Leadership Team

(Minneapolis, MN) Long-time Utne magazine editors Jon Spayde and Karen Olson will lead the magazine's editorial efforts beginning March 1, 2004 as Editorial Director Jay Walljasper departs to become executive editor of the Dutch-based Ode Magazine.

Spayde, a 12-year Utne veteran, is the co- author of Utne's Salons: the Joy of Conversation, the editor of two Utne special issues, a performance artist and a Japanese literature grad from Harvard. Olson, with a background that is as impressive as it is eclectic, has been with the magazine for nearly five years. She has not only achieved acclaim in the literary and publishing worlds, she has worked as a university instructor, firefighter and holistic health practitioner.

"Utne is in great hands," says Walljasper. "This is one of the finest editorial teams in the business, and for me it's been a true pleasure to partner with them. Jon Spayde and I have worked shoulder-to-shoulder for the past twelve years; he's a big part of the soul of this magazine. Karen Olson is a brilliant editor and writer, as well as an astute manager. She absolutely lives our mission."

Utne magazine, one of the nation's few truly independent publications, delivers the best of the alternative press. Editors pour over nearly 2,000 magazines, books, alternative weeklies, newsletters, zines and more to bring readers an experience that is rich, meaningful, inspirational and heartfelt.

"I love and respect Jay, and this opportunity to do more writing and traveling is the perfect next step for him, " says Nina Utne, Utne chair. "At the same time, Jay's departure opens the door to personal and professional growth for our extraordinarily strong edit staff. I'm very excited to be working more closely with Jon and Karen, both of whom are talented and dedicated exemplars of the passionate vision of the magazine."

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About Utne magazine: Utne is a bimonthly national magazine with a paid circulation of 225,000. Since 1984, Utne has been a leading voice for the alternative and independent press, bringing readers the "other side of the story" on issues ranging from the environment to the economy, from international relations to pop culture.