Neil Heinen's career in words
Heinen retires Sept. 15 after 20 years working with the magazine.
This marks Neil Heinen's final “For the Record” column, capping 20 years of monthly column writing for Madison Magazine.
Neil Heinen
Heinen: We need to talk
Editorial director Neil Heinen mourns the loss of interpersonal interaction.
"One of the many difficult and vexing ramifications of living in a pandemic is the forced separation from one another. But the truth is we’ve been moving further apart for awhile now."
Heinen: Stress unrelieved
When George Floyd was killed, the word “stress” took on new significance.
COVID-19 opened our eyes to stresses too long obscured by a distracted society.
Heinen: Madison media, we’re in this together
Local news gathering is a responsibility and a privilege and those of us who do it take it seriously.
Local news gathering is a responsibility and a privilege and those of us who do it take it seriously.
Heinen: What separates us keeps us together
Working from home was never something to which I aspired.
Working from home was never something to which I aspired.
Heinen: More trust would bring less anxiety
Someone I know and trust recently posited we’ve become the United States of Anxiety.
Someone I know and trust recently posited we’ve become the United States of Anxiety.
Heinen: Education is a shared concern
The change in our relationship to our civic institutions has been one of the most important issues.
The change in our relationship to our civic institutions has been one of the most important issues of the last 30 years and one of the biggest challenges we face as a civil society.
Heinen: A credit to our profession
To say finding a career in journalism saved my life sounds a tad dramatic.
To say finding a career in journalism saved my life sounds a tad dramatic.
How far we’ve come and still need to go in Madison
A lot of people who care about this city and region have been anticipating 2020 for what feels like a long time.
A lot of people who care about this city and region have been anticipating 2020 for what feels like a long time.
For the Record: Paul Terranova of Lussier Community Education Center talks with Neil
Strong cities have strong community centers. Because they are so deeply connected, community centers are also places where city issues plays out in real time. Housing, transportation, employment, education...real issues for real people in real places.
Heinen: The art of reflection
Reflection accompanies the end of a year
I have always enjoyed the reflection that accompanies the end of a year.
Heinen: The news stops for no one
Vacations are tricky in the news business
Vacations are tricky in the news business. News doesn’t take a vacation, so inevitably events occur while you’re gone causing you to regret not being able to respond until optimal timeliness has long passed.
Heinen: Embracing the inevitable change
Life is change.
The constancy of change as a theme in the reality of life can seem cliché. Life is change.
Heinen: The power of words
Words have the ability to shape the world we live
I’ve long known that words have a uniquely powerful ability to shape how we view our lives and the world in which we live.
Heinen: An appreciation for Jen Cheatham
Cheatham is leaving Madison in August
My appreciation for Cheatham is similarly broad in scope, certainly much broader than the typical public perceptions portrayed in the media.
Heinen: Age-old questions
For the most part, I have no idea how old I am.
For the most part, I have no idea how old I am.
Heinen: My History with Hizzoner Paul Soglin
Soglin and Heinen's paths repeatedly crossed
I’ll never think of living and working in Madison without thinking of Hizzoner Paul Soglin.
Heinen: In search of wisdom in our schools
I'm looking for wisdom and guidance
The recent incidents in our schools has further revealed the racism — both latent and blatant — in our society as a whole.
Heinen: Construction ahead for Wisconsin's government
There's a lot ahead for the state
Former Gov. Scott Walker did a lot of damage to this state.
Heinen: Considering shared interests and sticky situations in Madison
Our cities and our schools have lots of challenges
Heading into the recent elections, I’d been doing a fair amount of thinking about civil society, shared concerns, listening to each other and problem solving.
Madison is in the solution business
Localism is about problem solving
Localism is about problem solving, and cities are increasingly best situated to address the concerns we share as citizens.
Heinen: The One City Early Learning Center Model
One City plans to open an elementary school
One City rocks at nurturing kids and families. Its success in just three years is remarkable.
Heinen: The kindness of strangers
I am writing this Nov. 7, a day after the election
I think sometimes that foreign travel provides those “kindness of strangers” experiences that make us appreciate the connection we have to one another in this world despite differences of language and culture.
Heinen: The power of art
"To all you one-hit wonders out there"
To all you one-hit wonders out there, I am in awe of your talent and your courage.
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