Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Saturday, July 05, 2008

Joe Orso: New job will change role at Tribune

Joe Orso

By Joe Orso | La Crosse Tribune

For almost 21/2 years in this column space, I’ve been exploring with readers the faith, values and spirituality of this community.

While that’s going to continue, next week my role at the La Crosse Tribune will change.

On Monday I begin working part-time for the Franciscan Spirituality Center, an institution at 920 Market St. sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.

More on what I’ll be doing there shortly, but first I want to explain how that will affect my role at this newspaper.

What I won’t be doing: Covering faith and values as a news beat.

Political reporters don’t run for office and cops reporters aren’t cops because it compromises their objectivity.

As I’ll be working in the religious sphere in this community, I now have a clear stake in that sphere, and so will no longer cover that subject through news articles.

For the time being, then, your religion news contact at the Tribune is local editor Scott Rada, srada@lacrossetribune.com.

What I will be doing:

Writing this column on faith, values and spirituality.

I’ve never written values-free stories in this column space. While I try to include a variety of voices in the discussion here, regular readers probably have an idea of where I stand.

So I’ll continue to write this column and I hope you’ll continue to engage and challenge me and those who appear in this column space through our online Reader’s Comments section, phone calls and e-mails. I’m always looking for new people and topics to write about.

What I’ll also be doing:

I’ll also write a general-interest column that will appear in the Hometown section of the Sunday Tribune and continue to cover news outside the religion beat.

Who I’m speaking for: Myself.

My job at the Franciscan Spirituality Center is still evolving, but generally we’re going to be exploring work with those who have spent time in jail, as well as environmental sustainability.

While encounters I have there might occasionally find their way into a column, I certainly won’t be speaking for the Center or the FSPA.

Contact Joe Orso at jorso@lacrossetribune.com or (608) 791-8429.