Journalism and Faith

It would be a lie to say that one's faith  had absolutely no influence on how one reports the news.  For most people, faith and religion is a part of who they are.  It has shaped them into the person and writer that writes for a paper or magazine.

NewsU.org has an article all about audiences wanting more religion news but it's the journalists that are reluctant to give it.  In this article, Eric Marrapodi, CNN Producer and writer on the CNN Belief Blog, says that audiences have always wanted more religions news but it's the mainstream journalists that are hesitant to cover such an issue because "sometimes that's difficult as a reporter to cover.  You don't want to appear biased."

I have to agree with Marrapodi.  It's a tricky thing for a journalist to take on a piece about religion.  They need to make sure their own religious views aren't present in the article and they also need to present the religion that is the focus of the article in an objective and balanced light.  In class we talked about how one would prepare to write an article about another religion.  I think you should do your research.  Learn as much as you can about the religion.  Read publications from the religion, speak to believers, google it.  Not only will this prepare you for the interview and help you ask hard-hitting questions, but I also think it shows respect.  It's like you are letting them know that you care and respect them enough to learn what you can about them and have come prepared to have an actual interview and not just an explanation session.

When we're children our neighborhood seems like the world.  But there is so much more to the world than our "little slice of Mayberry" as my dad would say.  Bill Keller, executive editor of The New York Times  said that "good journalism entails understanding more than just the neighborhood you grew up in."  We owe it to ourselves and our readers to learn as much as we can about the world around us and the people on it.

We need to find a balance when it comes to writing about religion.  The writer must be aware of his/her audience and their own, personal views.  Writing about religion is possible (and wanted).  We just need to make sure to be prepared when we take on such a daunting task.