Good news at dark time for journalism

I am ambivalent about religious journalism. on the one hand, as they say, there's no such thing as bad publicity, write whatever you want as long as you spell my name (or religion) correctly. Most religious folks like positive stories about their religion. But we also know news media's aversion to publishing 'dog bites man' stories, that they always want the unusual angle, and there is always a commitment to providing 'both sides' to every story, even when the main event attracted 3,000 people, and there were 2 protestors, the 2 sides get equal time.

When i was a kid, my family subscribed to Time magazine, and i always remembered how the table of contents was divided up into 10-15 categories, 'nation,' world, sports, religion. etc. And then sometime in the 60's or 70's, religion disappeared as a weekly category. What happened, did all religious people suddenly die? Which editor decided that religion was no longer relevant, at least to the elitist demographic they were trying to reach? Besides, for the truly religious person, religion is not merely one category of life lumped in with Cars, Lifestyles, Obituaries. For the religious person, their religion/faith IS their life, and all the other categories are subcategories of religion, so treating it as if is a discreet, severable facet of life is misleading.

Another source of ambivalence regarding religious reporting is that even the most scrupulously even handed and one who cares for details, defitinions in a certain denomination, etc., can never totally satisfy the profoundly religious reader, perhaps because most faiths operate somewhat under the rubric of mystery, a profound truth that is partially describable but never totally comprehensible in mere human words, not the words of the highest theologian, so even less the words of one trained as a professional journalist. This being the case, i guess the best we religious folk can hope from religious jounnalists is the bare minimum
asked of doctors in the Hippocratic Oath: primum non nocere, first, do no harm.

Hi MikeyP,

ST: Stick with GOD,
ST: The Rich get Poor in Spirit, (Hey my man Nehemiah,et al)

By gaudete: 'both sides' to every story, even when the main event attracted 3,000 people, and there were 2 protestors, the 2 sides get equal time.

You obviously have not read religious journalism from a religious source. The main stream is not as good. Find a source you like and read it for years.

By gaudete: 'so treating it as if is a discreet, severable facet of life is misleading.

OK, So now you disagree with your own ambivalence. This of course means you want better not less coverage.

By MikeyP: 'I can barely imagine what it would be like to cover religion in Nigeria, but I know one thing: it matters.'

Remember those Poles under Communism and the Change they made to their country.

By MikeyP: 'Unfortunately, the narrative was the last such project for the AJC, which is going through serious cutbacks and change

Now Mike I know it is frustrating and depressing. In this new USA World of ours general religious journalism has not quite found it's place to rest and to grow. To most of the non religious or ambivalent religious it is like the next hem line, high heeled shoe, pasta party, or baseball game party and senior editors want to run an angle to generate readership/money.

By gaudete: 'perhaps because most faiths operate somewhat under the rubric of mystery, a profound truth that is partially describable but never totally comprehensible in mere human words,'

You are a bit off on the above, yet I do understand. The first great theologian I met was a ROC chaplain in the USArmy long ago. He walked up and down the aisles of the base church talking about human things and the rationale for catholic teachings on things like marriage. After the sermon we would have coffee hour and agree/disagree. Lots of good stuff is out there that takes the mystery out of religion. Do you know where the Christmas Star story comes from and when inserted. I am going to see what Harvey has to say and so should you.

More on the child, 'mystery' comment. Most people do not want a FULL explanation on almost anything since it troubles their brains SO religious "pat' answers appeals to them on all subjects not just religion. Ask someone if they want to know what makes a person nearsighted and they will get glass eyeballed.

Yours in GOD, and MIKE Keep At It, MA/NY MrDave