WildB
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posted
http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0035147.cfm
January 11, 2005
Good Religion News Writers Needed
by Keith Peters, Washington, D.C., correspondent
Bad coverage arises from media outlets not caring to hire the best.
A journalist is making an impassioned plea for radio, TV and newspaper outlets to invest in hiring qualified religion news writers, noting that since many media gatekeepers attach little importance to religion, they often don't hire the best people for the beat.
In an article written for Poynter Online, a Web site for the professional improvement of journalists, Washington Times chief religion reporter Julia Duin said many media outlets have no one covering religion regularly or have someone with little knowledge covering the topic.
"The Washington Post had a article not too long ago mentioning Dennis Prager and they called him a Christian columnist," Duin said. "Well, come on now, anyone who's been on the beat anytime knows that Dennis Prager is Jewish."
Duin blamed the people at the top for such errors. They aren't religious, she noted, and in fact dislike religion.
Gordon Govier, a former president of the Madison Society of Professional Journalists and a former radio news director, found that out the hard way when he applied for several public radio jobs.
"They were jobs that were heavily sought-after," he said, "and I thought I was a strong candidate and would've brought some important diversity into the workplace, but I didn't get a callback, didn't get an interview."
Duin, meanwhile, asked media outlets to hire qualified people of faith who know what they're talking about on the religion beat, not novices.
"I know these reporters want to do a good job, but it takes years to get to know the Southern Baptists (or) the Catholic Church," she said. "You just don't walk on to these things just cold."
If you don't like your local religion coverage, Duin suggests telling the news outlets to do a better job.
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