The Pronoia Times is Back!

Reformatted for the world wide web, TPT has joined the digital world of news reporting. Citing financial losses and competition from the New York Times and the Tokyo Tribune, the paper’s ambitions have been digitalized yet not homogenized.

If you are unfamiliar with the coined term pronoia, that is indeed unfortunate! Popularized by writer and syndicated astrology columnist, Rob Brezsny, the term implies “an alternative to paranoia.” In the context of this newspaper, the term also refers to: good news, optimism and divine order.

The new format will encourage voyeurs and viewers to copy the weekly newspaper text creating a hand-held newspaper as originally intended. Editor Gaines Steer’s quote from the first edition:

“I sense that there is yet room for a well-written, light and breezy, positive-yet-liberal, newspaper that is small enough to fit into your pocket or purse….It’s mobile and fun to read, yet thought provoking in a campy kinda way. Somewhat outrageous.” January 25, 2008

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Parameters for Article Submission to

The Pronoia Times.

Please survey a back-issue to grasp the style and flavor of the paper.

It is important to get on board with the concept of pronoia, since this “phenomena” provides the paper’s over-arching theme. The definition of pronoia is “the suspicion that the Universe is a conspiracy on your behalf". In the context of this paper, pronoia refers to good news, optimism, and divine guidance. (quote from the masthead).

There is a distinction intended here to be made between happy-happy pop culture stories and pragmatic idealism. That is, the difference between saluting happy endings and articulating the experience of the grace inherent in the news-of-living. If this explanation is not clear, you might re-read the Rumi poem: the guest house (printed on page 4 of the Winter, 2006 issue).

> Submissions need to be limited to 200-225 words, or less. The four page format dictates length.

> The paper is not local or regional. Due to its national distribution, articles should not be geographically sensitive.

> For the most part, articles we print are unlike those that mainstream newspapers typically feature. Examine an issue and you will see that this is so. (And thankfully so!)

Do please submit! Gaines Steer and Caroline Wood will make decisions re: inclusion based upon our best judgements and intuitions.

We are open to suggestions.

Sincerely,

Gaines Steer

Editor

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Sunday, January 27, 2008

Good News and Better

There are two kinds of good news: good news and pronoia news.
Ooey-gooey good news is that chicken-liver-for-the-soul kinda good news that makes us feel good. A harsh story with a happy ending: “….and they all lived happily ever afterward.”

Pronoia (good) news is a bit more subtle. It’s a matter of perception... perception which follows the acceptance of the conundrum: the suspicion that the universe is a conspiracy on your behalf. This gives room for the mystical view, possibility, and yes, likelihood that there is purpose and direction, even in the midst of chaos and confusion.

Paraphrasing the slogan: “give peace a chance,” pronoia begs to give a chance to the alternative reality that we are blessed by a divine, higher-power that requests that we slow down the prevailing beliefs in evil-is-about-to-getcha and wait for the morning sun to rise. The light of day that over-rides fear and negativity.

This paper’s over-arching theme and purpose align with this “conspiracy.”

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