Journalism for Christian publications

Faith informs every area of our lives, and so should journalism in faith-based publications. In a world shaped by religious belief and conflict, journalists who serve audiences of faith have a key role in helping them see and understand their lives and societies. We’ll discuss an approach for understanding stories with religious implications, and how to apply key principles of journalism to connect with audiences across a variety of religious perspectives.

Les Sillars, WORLD News Group editor in chief 

Agape ethics in a ruthless world: Get your feet wet in the sometimes murky pool of journalism ethics

As a person of faith, what would you do if you were covering a disaster and the people you were filming or interviewing started calling for help? Would you jump in and save them or keep filming? It’s not as black and white as it sounds. Once you consider the dilemma, you realize there are great reasons to choose either course of action. Journalists will encounter many complex ethical situations that smack them in the face in a world ruled by power, money, and fame – and as writers, immorality. Walk away with “tools” to put in your “ethical toolbox” to help you make sound, ethical decisions in reporting situations from a Biblical worldview.

Karyn Campbell, North Greenville University

Faith enough to slow down

Jesus truly saw people. He sees you, too! As writers, it’s so easy to get caught up in the stories of other people, deadlines, and other pressures. Join us to take a break from the bustle of MediaFest, reset priorities, invite God to work, connect with others who want to serve God, and deeply know God’s peace! We’ll have time to reflect on Scripture and pray for each other.

Naomi Balk, WORLD News Group/World Journalism Institute assistant director
Laura J. Downey, WedMD executive editor

Religion and media: Navigating narratives, power, and public trust

How is religion represented in today’s media, and what’s missing from the picture? This conversation will explore how shifting demographics, technological advances, economic incentives, and knowledge gaps are shaping coverage of religion – and influencing what’s misunderstood, overlooked, or overemphasized in public discourse. Drawing on original research and interviews with journalists, scholars, and faith leaders, the panel will examine key challenges at the intersection of religion and media, including persistent secular biases, religious (il)literacy, media (mis)representations, and the evolving role of public scholarship.

Gerald FitzGerald, George Mason University
Josh Good, Aspen Institute Religion & Society director

New media and political journalism

Does working for a faith-based outlet hold you back? Not in today’s media climate. Hear from two Washington reporters about how they balance faith and objectivity on Capitol Hill and in the White House. What is the new media wave, and how can Christians work to build it into good media?

Carolina Lumetta, politics reporter for WORLD News Group
Leo Briceno, politics reporter for WORLD News Group

Ruined publication reputation? How to address religious biases before publishing

College students wear many hats, but how does someone with religious beliefs balance that with being an editor? A student editor shares how to view editorial decisions ethically to avoid letting personal beliefs lead to biased reporting. A recent case involving another editor with strong Jewish beliefs and poor editing resulted in backlash, letters to the editor, and damage to the publication’s reputation.

Michael Cook, Florida Atlantic University editor in chief

Surviving crisis reporting

Reporters see and hear the unedited brokenness of the world we live in: tears of the mother who lost her son, glass shattered on the sidewalk after a protest, bridges twisted like toothpicks after floods. This heaviness takes a toll on the journalist who sees it as their job to report the full story. Join this panel to explore the dos and don’ts of crisis reporting and practical steps for processing trauma and tight deadlines. A licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW), a former public affairs officer in the US Coast Guard, and a journalist will lead the conversation. 

Taek Kim, District Church director of counseling and care 
Mark Moland, LeTourneau University
Chris Moody, Appalachian State University

Engaging a religious lens

We’ll examine the question, “Can the Bible inform reporters on how to cover the news?” Hear from practicing reporters about their firsthand reporting experiences as they consider what it means to report objectively as people of faith.

Juliana Erikson, WORLD correspondent  
Jenny Rough, WORLD Radio correspondent and Legal Docket podcast co-host
Josh Schumacher, WORLD breaking news reporter

Freedom to report with faith

As culture shifts away from religion, reporters are caught in a paradox: non-religious reporters report on topics of faith, and reporters of faith report on non-religious topics. What does it look like to report with objectivity in an age where not all perspectives are viewed as valid? Hear from Tyson Langhofer, director of the ADF Center for Academic Freedom, as he shares lessons from history about freedom of the press. 

Tyson Langhofer, director of the ADF Center for Academic Freedom

10 story ideas tied to religion on your campus

Whether your campus is big or small, public or private, there are many different ways that religion touches your institution and the surrounding community. Come and learn about how to approach these topics in a way that’s intriguing for you, engaging for readers, and impressive to employers.

Wesley Wright, Florida Atlantic University
Erum Ikramullah, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding senior research project manager

Exposing censorship for religious reasons

People of faith are being censored all over the world. Lois McLatchie Miller works with these individuals and has also spent a significant amount of time considering how to communicate these to an American audience. Join her for discussion on censorship for reasons of faith, get tips on how you can bring these cases to light, and learn what to do when your work faces online censorship.

Lois McLatchie Miller, ADF International senior legal communications officer