The Atlantic and the Deseret News Collaborate to Produce "The Father Factor"

SALT LAKE CITY and WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The state of contemporary American fatherhood is the subject of a new editorial collaboration between The Atlantic and the Deseret News launching this week. "The Father Factor" is a weeklong series featuring in-depth reporting from both organizations on the social, cultural and economic factors affecting American family life, to be published on TheAtlantic.com and DeseretNews.com beginning Feb. 23rd. The Atlantic and the Deseret News have been in ongoing discussions about ways to collaborate first linked to a mutual interest in how best to harness the rapidly innovating digital media space. This collaboration marks the first for the two organizations.

"Family stability shouldn't be a wedge issue. Too often, the actual problems facing families are overshadowed by partisan rhetoric," said Paul Edwards, Editor of the Deseret News. "This collaboration reflects our mutual interest in the state of American families, and represents our collective commitment to journalism that invites questions and drives society to solutions."

"The Atlantic has a longstanding interest in the changing nature of the American family," said Bob Cohn, The Atlantic's Digital Editor. "In this four-part series, we are collaborating with the Deseret News to explore what new social science research reveals about the policies and perceptions around modern fatherhood."

The series explores the changing landscape of fatherhood and its impact on children growing up in America today. Reporting includes a look at the increasing number of American children growing up in man-free zones; the growth in households headed by single fathers; how educational systems can better prepare young men for the economic challenges of fatherhood; and how welfare systems designed for single mothers ignore fathers.

The fatherhood series will be published over this week of February 23, 2014 on both TheAtlantic.com and DeseretNews.com, as well as in the Deseret News' local and national print editions. Each article will examine a different facet of fatherhood in America today:

• On Sunday, Feb. 23, Deseret News writers Lois M. Collins and Marjorie Cortez examine the research on how fathers matter to child development and note a correlation between father-absent homes and poverty.
• On Monday, Feb. 24, Atlantic writer Caroline Kitchener explores a recent increase in the number of households headed by single fathers and describes how changing custody laws put more faith in dads.
• On Tuesday, Feb. 25, Deseret News writer Elizabeth Stuart tells the story of one man's commitment to fatherhood and illustrates how fathers bear the brunt of welfare policies based on stereotypes of single mothers and "deadbeat" dads.
• On Wednesday, Feb. 26, Atlantic writer Christine Gross-Loh explores the promise of apprenticeship programs to raise earnings and give young men the skills they need to become better husbands and fathers.

ABOUT THE ATLANTIC
Since its founding in 1857 as a magazine about "the American Idea" that would be of "no party or clique," The Atlantic has been at the forefront of brave thinking in journalism. One of the first magazines to launch on the Web in the early 1990s, The Atlantic has continued to help shape the national debate across print, digital, and event platforms. With the addition of The Wire and The Atlantic Cities and digital publication The Atlantic Weekly, The Atlantic is a multi-media forum on the most critical issues of our times—from politics, business, urban affairs, and the economy, to technology, arts, and culture. The Atlantic is the flagship property of Washington, D.C.–based publisher Atlantic Media.

ABOUT THE DESERET NEWS
Founded in 1850, the Deseret News (www.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]

Emily Lenzner
Atlantic Media
202-266-7169
[email protected]

SOURCE Deseret News