The Way Forward For Christian Journalists

By Noemi Wallner


The gathering and reporting of news gives Christian journalists a particular responsibility that may not be there for others in the same profession. Although they have a duty to report the facts truthfully and faithfully, they should also take it upon themselves to represent the perspective of their faith.

In a just world, a reporter who professes adherence to any belief system should have equal access to jobs available in the employment market. However, there are advantages and disadvantages in everything. Sometimes the advantage may be that the writer can be considered for employment working for some of the major ministries in the country that are also excellent employers and great publishers of newspapers and magazines that always need writers. On the other hand, if you are of a particular faith, working on certain publications may be religiously unacceptable to you.

If your beliefs are central to your life and strongly influence your social networks, your interactions and your general outlook on the world, you may be of great value to a media house that thinks as you do. Developing a niche is a strategy of many writers and religious affairs is as good a niche as any. You can start work on a church paper and grow your name as a commentator on certain issues. Apart from your contributions to the publication you work on, consider running your own blog.

This has worked for a number of female Christian authors who have focused on the issues of women, families and relationships which are all important topics within the church. These writers have since emerged into renowned women Christian speakers who often travel the world to speak and minister at church events. If you are looking for a future in ministry you will find that your journalistic skills will stand you in good stead since both ministry and writing are about communicating with people.

Not every adherent of Christianity is employed by the faith media. Indeed, most of them will find themselves employed in secular media house that has little interest in what they believe in. Still, even if that is the case, it is still an opportunity for believers to use their position to bring public attention to issues that affect the church such as persecutions that are taking place in various parts of the world.

Impartiality is not always a given as far as news reports go. Indeed, some may argue that no news item is impartial since the writer and the publication have a point of view. It is that perspective that will dictate what is considered a news story and what is not. Political matters are almost always reported from a point of view since it will depend on the viewpoint which political policies are addressed by the media.

A lot of ministry and evangelism is done in writing and it needs good writers who understand the bible to communicate its message with other people. Christian journalists are the best people for this task. The can reach so many people and should take full advantage of this fact.




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