"The New Modality" is a global publication and community about experiments in culture. We seek answers to the question: “What is a meaningful life in this rapidly changing world?” This is a question of culture, economics, governance, and beyond, because change is occurring at all levels: the individual, family, community, city, nation, and worldwide.
We are optimistic, yet rigorous and critical; pluralistic, with a sense of independence-plus-interdependence; authentic, empathic, and thoughtful. Some of our material is systems-level examination and critique, and some is highly personal.
Learn more about us in this writeup, temporarily on Medium until our website is ready: http://bit.ly/AboutNewMoVersion1
Slide Credits: Lydia Laurenson (founder and executive editor), Jenna Van Hout (designer).
2. What is a
meaningful life in
this rapidly
changing world?
The New Modality
seeks answers to the
question:
@lydialaurenson • @NewModality
3. Organization Core Values
Truth.
We transparently
document our process,
from finances to
fact-checking
Respect.
We are fair with
contributors, with
contracts better than
industry standard
Stewardship.
We use carbon-neutral
paper, and we do NOT
use ecosystem-harming
practices, such as
clickbait headlines
@lydialaurenson • @NewModality
4. @lydialaurenson • @NewModality
Section 1: Lifestyle
Arts & Culture, Spirituality, Family
• “Post-Religion Spiritual Schools”
• “How and Why Burning Man Is
Transitioning Into a Nonprofit”
• “Weddings Outside Tradition: How
to Get Married Without Selling Out”
Photo by award-winning Burning Man photographer Tom Stahl
5. Section 2:
Science & Tech
Tech Impact, Philosophy of Science
• “The Ideology of Transhumanism:
Ethical Implications of Transcending
The Body”
• “Redesigning Field Technology To
Better Serve Ebola Doctors”
@lydialaurenson • @NewModalityPhoto by Josh Hild, via Unsplash
6. @lydialaurenson • @NewModality
Section 3: Society
Emerging Philanthropy,
Business, and Politics
• “Creating Ethical Gig Economy
Companies”
• “What Engineering Teams Can
Learn from Live-Action
Roleplaying Games”
Screenshot from Neocab, a game about gig economy ethics
7. Here’s the plan
1/ Philanthropic support to help us launch
2/ Get the website and team going
3/ Crowdfunding campaign
4/ Campaign rolls over into subscriptions
@lydialaurenson • @NewModality
8. Editors
Editor in Chief
Lydia Laurenson
Formerly: The Battery Magazine
(managing editor), News Deeply
(director of strategy), Peace Corps;
writer for The Atlantic, HBR, Vice
Editor at Large
Michael J. Coren
Currently: Quartz (created by
The Atlantic); Formerly: Phnom
Penh Post (managing editor),
CNN (science editor)
@lydialaurenson • @NewModality
9. …and more
Advisors:
Nick Pinkston (founder, Plethora)
Rose Broome (founder, HandUp)
Fred Turner (Stanford)
Ben Aldern (founder, Prestozon)
@lydialaurenson • @NewModality
Support:
Cadence Bambenek (admin)
Jenna Van Hout (design)
Susan Wilson (developer)
Quinn Heraty (lawyer)
10. What we’re raising
Now raising a philanthropic “seed round” by October —
donations go through a 501(c)3 fiscal sponsor and are tax-deductible
We’ll run a crowdfunding campaign in October
The philanthropic contributions will pay startup costs, push the
crowdfunding campaign WAY farther, and help produce our first issues
Funders are invited to intimate gatherings and get public credit (if desired)
@lydialaurenson • @NewModality
11. Thank you
More about The New Modality:
http://bit.ly/AboutNewMoVersion1
I’m @lydialaurenson on Twitter/Instagram
and we’re @NewModality on Twitter
@lydialaurenson • @NewModalityDeck designed by Jenna Van Hout — thank you, Jenna!
12. Appendix 1: Lineage
We know and have worked with
people from Whole Earth Catalog,
Mondo 2000, and early Wired
@lydialaurenson • @NewModality
13. Appendix 2: Landscape
High-end magazines can charge $30-35 per issue
Publications currently succeeding with this model include
Kinfolk, Anxy, Drift — specialized culture magazines
We have printed with Kinfolk’s printer before, and have
logistical knowledge and experience with the process
We also have an audience that likes to attend events,
and we’ve already raised money in test events
@lydialaurenson • @NewModality