Media Practitioners Give Accolades to 5-Year-old OSM! Magazine

On its 5^th year, OSM! online magazine has reached a pretty-much solid ground of readership worldwide at 4 million reads and growing. It continues to thrive, with its genuine appreciation of the achievements and victories of ordinary men and women, the young and the youthful.

Although officially born on March 18, 2012, we will celebrate with friends on the 15^th of April for their continued support of positive journalism as a way to enlighten the world. Here are some of what media practitioners say about OSM!

 

Terry H. Schwadron: Retired editor, The New York Times & LA Times

We hear what we think we want, not what we may need to hear to recognize ourselves as participants in a multi-cultural, multi-layered society. We have a responsibility to seek out voices that are not our own and listen.

 

People should turn to the OSM! website simply to engage with voices that they may not hear in other places on the Internet or in print. Upon doing so, they are most likely to recognize quickly that these are voices that may be unfamiliar in cultural tone or emphasis, that they reflect experiences that stretch the reader’s imagination.

 

Too much of our current media time and attention is spent listening inside an echo chamber. We hear what we think we want, not what we may need to hear to recognize ourselves as participants in a multi-cultural, multi-layered society. We have a responsibility to seek out voices that are not our own and listen.

 

Being taken inside work in the gray economy of not-quite-legal immigration, for example, stretches our empathy and our understanding. Listening to people’s hardships, persistence and celebration are all important.

Larissa Shmailo:New York-based poet

I would love it to be a purely literary magazine, with international interviews, but I think I would miss OSM’s political edge.

1. I read because of my personal connection with the publisher and because the writing is international, and often women-based. We get into a cocoon in the US, do not know what is going on abroad.
2. I do not follow all the Filipino politics stories.
3. Of course, I would love it to be a purely literary magazine, with international interviews, but I think I would miss OSM’s political edge.

 

Tim Sheard:Publisher, Hard Ball Press

I turn to OSM because the magazine shows there are good people doing good things – great things – every day.

1. The mainstream media is filled with stories of bad people doing bad things; wars and shootings and fires and such. I turn to OSM because the magazine shows there are good people doing good things – great things – every day. It encourages me and helps sustain my hope that my modest efforts will help someone’s life a little easier. A little better. A little more full of love.
2. For the most part my expectations as a reader are amply rewarded. I especially like the international flavor or the reporting, it is not centered on the US or one particular region. I hope the magazine is able to expand in 2017 so that it can bring more stories form an even more diverse set of writers.
3. For further development, I would like to see more video interviews and more short video documentaries. They say we “see with our eyes, we feel with our ears,” which to me means that reading a story can have an impact and can move someone – look at all the novels we love to read – but hearing the sound of people struggling and succeeding can touch the heart in a powerful way. I would also appreciate more stories about individuals who are involved in saving the planet from climate change. Little steps, like asking everyone in your apartment building to grow flowers and herbs in their windowsill, or composting their vegetable/fruit refuge rather than putting it in the garbage. We can all make a difference. Use LED lights instead of halogens, etc.

 

Jan Andrada

NYC Nurse

OSM! is entertaining but also educational with stories that one can relate to and would wake up our critical sense.

1. Why do I read OSM!: Aside from the reason that the editor is a good friend, all articles are updated with current events and it also gives the readers the chance to share their views and opinions on what’s going on around the community, the country or the world. OSM! is entertaining but also educational with stories that one can relate to and would wake up our critical sense.
2. My expectations were not met because it went BEYOND expectations. I had the impression that it’s only a promotional online magazine with lots of advertisers but the writer comes up with interesting issues, events and stories. It also reflects the author’s bubbly personality and free spirit!
3. Recommendations: Maybe it would be good to have a section of food, wine and dine and recipes that are easy to follow and some life hacks or travel tips. Also some legal advices, tips from lawyers regarding employment protections and rights.

 

Myrna Gutierrez

Events Organizer & Magazine Publisher

I read OSM! because it is very informative of relevant issues and events. It addresses events on time. I wish that it continues to cover relevant and interesting issues.

 

Jen Furer

TV Host, Blogger, Health Coach

I like to read OSM! because it is updated with community events and it focuses on positive reporting. I want it to continue with its updated community reports and incorporate video clips.

 

(Our featured photo is Miss Angela Mata, narrator of Out of the Shadows film documentary produced by Marivir R. Montebon and OSM! in 2016. She loves the OSM! tote bag.)