Newspaper Coverage of Religion and How it Can Be Improved

Newspaper coverage of religion

By Rev. Billy Graham In 1994 American evangelist Billy Graham addressed the American Society of Newspaper editors on the topic Newspaper coverage of religion and how it can be improved. His suggestions: "Make it a matter of policy to report more religious news for your readers;" "Probe the religious, moral and ethical dimensions of some of the stories which fill our headlines;" "Reach out to the religious leaders, both clergy and lay people;" "Seek qualified journalists for the 'religion beat' who have an interest or a knowledge of religion." What follows is an excerpt of his remarks. George Gallup’s latest poll indicates that 69 percent of Americans are members of a church or synagogue or other religious bodies. Furthermore, in any given week 42 percent attend at least one religious service. Someone has pointed out that this is more than attend all professional baseball games in a year.

But there are also many other people who are interested in religion, although they may be religiously inactive. I like the term Norman Lear used a few months ago at the National Press Club when he talked about gropers--people who are sincerely searching for religious values and beliefs. These people are your readers.

And yet I agree with Rabbi James Rudin of the American Jewish Committee, who said: “Religion is one of the most under-reported activities in America.” One religion reporter pointed out in Editor and Publisher some months ago that out of some 1600 dailies in America, only about 50 had a full time religion reporter.

As I travel from city to city I find religious news is often relegated to a few ads and columns on Saturday and, in many instances, is on the same page as either the classifieds or the obituaries!

And yet I believe those of you in the media and those of us in religion have much in common. We both are in the business of communication. We also are both in the people business. In addition, truth is essential in your work as it is in mine. Also, we both want to make a difference in the world.

In it’s finest tradition, there has always been a reformist streak in the America press–revealing corruption; questioning misguided trends and policies; rooting out social evils such as racism and injustice. In this you share a common goal with America’s religious heritage, and I believe this is on reason why the Founding Fathers included both freedom of religion and freedom of the press in the same First Amendment.

In the long run the loss of one freedom will bring about the loss of the other. And I believe that we need to learn to work together to reveal and reverse the problems which are threatening the very fabric of our society.

What is the problem? You are far more qualified than I to analyze that question. But let me suggest several possibilities.

For one thing, much of what happens in religion is not news, by your definition, and I understand that. You are concerned with change; we are concerned with that which we believe to changeless. You are interested in that which breaks the pattern of normal life–disasters, political upheavals, wars, the cruelties and foibles of human nature, conflicts between people and nations. We are interested in what goes on (often unseen) in the hearts of individuals: hopes reborn, purpose restored, guilt removed, love rekindled.

In addition, religion is such a vast subject that it must seem almost incomprehensible to those on the outside. Some of you may be afraid of offending some readers in our pluralistic society by dealing with religious topics, and you find it easier to avoid them altogether. Or the moral failures or extreme positions of a few religious leaders may have made you cynical of religion generally. And many of your reporters have little religious background and feel inadequate or uninterested when they come to religious news.

What be done to improve the coverage of religious news?

That brings me to the heart of the subject you have asked me to speak on today. Let me make four brief suggestions which I hope will stimulate your thinking.

First, Make it a matter of policy to report more religious news for your readers, both from your local community and from the broader world.

I firmly believe the stories are to be found. In fact, some of those stories could add a whole new flavour to your newspapers. Our front pages are filled with stories of abuse, fraud, rape, mutilation, murder, war, starvation–the list is endless. And these are part of the news, for tragedy seems to be the rule rather than the exception of what happens in the world. But I believe the public is tired of a steady diet of unrelenting bad news–and I expect many of you are, also.

Where is the good news? Much of it is to be found in the quiet work of people who are motivated by religious values.

The bad news is that our cities are crumbling under the weight of problems like poverty, gangs, drugs, unemployment, homelessness, poor education, and so forth. The good news is that there are countless new programs run by churches and individuals who are sheltering the homeless, feeding the hungry, developing special programs for job training and education and rehabilitating those whose lives have been ruined by drugs and alcohol. For example, I have a grandson who is youth minister of a Presbyterian church in Coral Springs, Florida. He had twenty of his young people at Homestead the day after the hurricane, and they went down day after day helping any way they could.

The bad news is that AIDS continues to ravage our society. The good news is that there are thousands of small organizations which throughout the country—Jewish, as well as Catholic and Protestant—that reach out to others. There are thousands of groups that meet weekly for prayer in the most surprising and unsuspected of places. There is hardly a professional athletic team that doesn't have within it a small group that regularly meet for prayer and Bible study. Each one could be an interesting story.

Second, probe the religious, moral and ethical dimensions of some of the stories which fill our headlines.

Some of the major stories that cross your desks every day may have profound moral and ethical dimensions—dimensions that often are overlooked in the rush to report the bare facts. I think of many of the things that are happening today in medicine, for example, or science, or legal affairs, or even business. I don't think we can understand conflicts in places like the Balkans or in the Middle East without understanding something of the religious dimensions of those stories. Let me cite some personal examples.

About a year and a half ago we were in Moscow. We held a series of meetings in the Olympic stadium—the first public meetings of that type in Russia since the takeover of Communism 75 years ago. The stadium was filled to capacity each night. On some nights, thousands stood outside in the cold watching a large screen television because they couldn't get in. One night the Red Army Chorus sang a series of religious songs. These historic meetings attracted little interest in the American press.

It is also interesting to note that while we debate whether to have prayer in schools, they are seeking Bible teachers and religious people to teach in schools.

Less than three months ago, I was in Tokyo for a series of meetings in the Tokyo Dome, and I sensed something of the same thing. Our business pages talk about Japan constantly, and yet I sensed there may be an even bigger story in the disillusionment with materialism that many Japanese are expressing. I spent some time talking with several political leaders and felt something of the frustration that is being felt in political circles in Japan today. But we saw night after night hundreds coming forward to commit their lives to Christ.

A few days later we were in China . . . We hear a great deal about human rights in China. But one of the great stories about China is the growth of the Christian church there. Some of China's leadership is beginning to understand that Christians are some of the best and most honest citizens and workers.

Just a few days later we were in North Korea. It is certainly one of the most isolate countries on earth, and the people there have almost no news from the outside world . . . They covered my visit in-depth every night on their national television news. But to me the news there is not only the political story, but the religious one. At one time North Korea proclaimed itself the world's first completely atheistic state, and all religious activity was banned. Now there is a small Christian community there, and three churches have been built in Pyongyang with government approval. Perhaps this could provide a bridge between us during this time of great tension.

My point is that there is often a religious dimension to the news that needs to be probed. And in the long run it may be the most significant story, because religion often sways whole societies and can even change the course of history.

Third, reach out to the religious leaders, both clergy and lay people, in your own communities.

Many of us religious leaders in your community would welcome an invitation to lunch, or to visit your offices once or twice a year. Be sure to include the lay people because in many areas it is they who are they spiritual leaders in a community. Many clergy and lay people won't take the initiative, because they are afraid it might be misinterpreted and you will think they are trying to use you.

It has been my privilege to sit with many editorial boards and have a frank discussion. I think all of us were enlightened. When I was in Atlanta recently, Tom Johnson, President of CNN, invited all the editors and managers of the TV stations, news directors, etc. to a luncheon at CNN headquarters. No one declined his invitation, and we had over an hour of and a half of fruitful discussion. A couple of years ago Tom Murphy, president of Capital Cities, invited the top news men and women in television to a luncheon in New York. We had an excellent time of discussion and getting to know each other. Such people as Dan Rather, Peter Jennings, Diane Sawyer and many others were there. These are a few examples of what could be done on a local level.

Most of my work through the years has been in the great cities of the world. I and my staff have uncovered many stories that would be of keen interest to your readers, but which are largely unknown and untold by the press.

Finally, I encourage you to seek qualified journalists for the "religion beat" who have an interest or a knowledge of religion.

Those who have some knowledge of religion will be far better qualified to deal with religious news stories fully and fairly. And I believe such people are to be found. They should have the highest standards of objectivity, but they should also be expected to understand their field just as much as you expect a sports reporter to understand sports. If you sent a reporter out to cover a football game who knew nothing about football and had never seen a game, he would have a terrible distorted version for the newspaper! The same is true in the field of religion.

Return to top