Synopses & Reviews
Discussions and examples of writing news about religion – a type of journalism rarely taught in the classroom but frequently assigned on the job – are found in this anthology, suitable for teaching alone or as a companion to Reporting News about Religion: An Introduction for Journalists. Containing over 70 examples published in American newspapers and magazines, this book discusses trends in American newspaper ownership and American society that have affected coverage of religious news, evolution of substance and style, and the influence of religion on American culture.
Synopsis
In Readings on Religion As News the authors look at the extensive role religion has had in shaping our ideas and our history.
Two former religion reporters have collected 200 years of significant news stories on religion. Buddenbaum and Mason show us how the media have spread religious beliefs and opinions and how people's opinions were affected by such reporting.
This collection covers a variety of subjects in both personal and regional writing styles. The original material is presented in its entirety, including spelling, grammar, and punctuation features.
The editors take us from the days of the first newspaper, to the Penny Press, into the era of individual ownership, and ending with the impact of chain ownership. The book concludes with a look at the contemporary area of religion as news.
Table of Contents
Preface.
Introduction.
Part 1: Ideological Journalism in a New Jerusalem.
1. Early Press Philosophy and Practice.
2. Playing God and Playing for Power.
3. The Great Awakening.
4. Religion and Revolution.
5. Disestablishment and Its Discontents.
Part 2: Personal Journalism for a Protestant America.
6. The Missionary Spirit.
7. The Birth of Modern religion Reporting.
8. Anti-Catholicism in 19th-Century America.
9. The Mormon Question.
10. A Nation Divided.
11. The "Jesus Newspaper.".
12. Revivalism.
13. The Spirit of Reform.
14. Faith, Science and Scripture.
15. Pulling Together.
Part 3: Detached Journalism in a Changing World.
16. Consensus Religion.
17. Winds of Change.
18. The Death of God.
19. All God's Children.
20. The Electronic Church.
21. God and the Ballot Box.
Part 4: Coping with Diversity, Connecting to Readers.
22. Culture Wars and Hot-Button Issues.
23. Church and State.
24. Pluralism takes Hold.
25. Spiritual Journeys.
26. God and Mammon.
27. Insights into Interpretations.
28. Toward a New Millennium.
Acknowledgments.