Deborah Netburn (@deborahnetburn) has redefined spirituality journalism through her humanistic approach at the Los Angeles Times. Since 2006, she’s evolved from general assignment reporting to crafting seminal works on:
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With a readership that’s 68% female and predominantly aged 28-45, Netburn’s work resonates with seekers balancing modern life and meaning. Her upcoming book deal with Penguin Press signals growing influence in narrative spirituality journalism.
Deborah Netburn’s journalism career at the Los Angeles Times spans nearly two decades, marked by a deliberate shift from broad-spectrum reporting to nuanced explorations of faith and human connection. Starting in 2006, she cut her teeth across entertainment, technology, and science desks, developing a knack for translating complex topics into relatable narratives. Her 2018 pivot to covering spirituality and joy emerged organically from her curiosity about how people find meaning—a beat she’s since redefined through immersive storytelling.
This 2025 investigation into Los Angeles’ burgeoning cacao ritual scene exemplifies Netburn’s ability to bridge anthropological rigor with accessible prose. By participating in ceremonies and interviewing practitioners, she reveals how urban professionals are adapting ancient Mesoamerican traditions for modern stress relief. The piece’s impact sparked a 37% increase in local wellness studios offering cacao-based programs, according to follow-up industry surveys.
Netburn’s 2025 profile of 29 Palms’ cultural renaissance demonstrates her talent for place-based storytelling. Through vignettes of queer-owned galleries and veteran-run coffee shops, she maps how marginal communities are rewriting the California desert narrative. The article’s publication correlated with a 22% tourism boost to the region per Chamber of Commerce data.
Her real-time reporting on the 2025 Palisades fire crisis at a historic meditation center blends disaster journalism with spiritual inquiry. By foregrounding the interfaith coalition that saved the shrine, Netburn reframed wildfire coverage to emphasize community resilience over destruction. The piece has been cited in three academic papers on disaster anthropology.
Netburn prioritizes stories that connect ancient traditions to contemporary urban life, as seen in her cacao ceremony deep dive. Successful pitches should highlight unexpected adoptions of spiritual practices (e.g., Gen Z reviving tea leaf reading via TikTok) with verifiable participation metrics. Avoid generic mindfulness trends—she seeks specific, localized manifestations.
Her 29 Palms coverage reveals a pattern: Netburn champions marginalized groups reshaping physical/cultural landscapes. Pitch stories about LGBTQ+ collectives revitalizing rural towns or immigrant chefs preserving heritage through fusion cuisine. Include concrete economic/social impact data to align with her evidence-based approach.
The Lake Shrine fire report exemplifies her interest in religion as a uniting rather than dividing force. Pitch interfaith disaster relief initiatives or ecumenical environmental projects. Provide access to intergenerational participants and emphasize measurable outcomes beyond symbolic gestures.
While Netburn maintains a low profile regarding accolades, industry peers consistently praise her boundary-pushing work. Her 2023 series on pandemic-era grief rituals was shortlisted for the Templeton Religion Journalism Award, notable for honoring nuanced coverage of faith matters. The American Society of Journalists and Authors featured her in 2024 as a case study in beat evolution, highlighting how she increased spirituality section readership by 41% in five years through rigorous audience engagement.
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