Deseret News Launches National Edition Website with Special Series on Relevance of Ten Commandments Today

SALT LAKE CITY, April 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Deseret News, a publication offering news, analysis and commentary for family-oriented audiences across the country, officially launched its new National Edition website with a special ten-part series on the state of the Ten Commandments in contemporary society.

"The Ten Today," an in-depth series drawing on sociological research and original reporting, features ten articles, each studying one of the Commandments from a counterintuitive and uniquely modern perspective. Publication is timed to coincide with Passover and Holy Week to inspire cultural reflection and provoke conversation and debate (#TenToday) about the contemporary relevance of the Ten Commandments among readers of all faith backgrounds. Why are some of the Commandments still strictly observed while others seem to have fallen out of vogue? How can ancient moral covenants be understood in the Internet age?

"We're excited to launch our new national edition online with such a relevant project," said Allison Pond, editor of the Deseret News National Edition. "By looking at one of the most important religious and ethical documents in history from a contemporary angle, we explore meaningful and provocative questions about American society today. This series exemplifies the rigorous and uniquely focused reporting which has earned the Deseret News readers across the country."

On Sunday, April 13th, the first five articles appeared on National.DeseretNews.com, with five more rolling out over the next ten days. Each article interprets a specific Commandment and investigates how – or if – it is observed in 21st-century America. The articles include:

"OMG": Mark A. Kellner looks at the prevalence of profanity and what that signifies. Who puts the brakes on, and why? Is swearing bad for society? Why is it accepted in some contexts but not others?

"The Instagram Effect": Lane Anderson analyzes consumption in the Internet age. How does social media aggravate our tendency to envy and covet?

"First Degree": Eric Schulzke digs into the sociological data about murder. Nationally, homicide rates are dropping – so why are some communities stuck in cycles of violence?

The Deseret News National Edition website (National.DeseretNews.com) complements the Deseret News' weekly national print edition, launched in 2011, whose rapid growth has cemented the Deseret News' position as one of the fastest-growing news publications in America. The newly-inaugurated National Edition website, like its print counterpart, provides in-depth coverage in six areas of emphasis – Family, Faith, Education, Culture, Causes, and Moneywise – for family-oriented audiences.

ABOUT THE DESERET NEWS
Founded in 1850, the Deseret News (www.DeseretNews.com and National.DeseretNews.com) offers news, analysis and commentary for family-oriented audiences across the country. The award-winning writers at the Deseret News keep their growing readership informed with real-world solutions that can make a positive difference in families and communities. The Deseret News is the oldest newspaper in Utah and a top-25 online national newspaper.

For further information, contact:
Oliver Conroy
Thatcher+Co.
973-396-6060
[email protected]

SOURCE The Deseret News