Local Media
Every local news reporter needs good contacts in their religious communities. (Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash )
A United Methodist Insight Column
Ever wonder why it seems our faith-based efforts at advocacy – whether it be for anti-racism, creation care, LGBTQ inclusion, coronavirus immunization, hunger, poverty, housing and more – hardly gets notice in secular media? A new study may hold an important link to the dearth of notice about faith-based advocacy: media give religion short shrift in its coverage.
Axios' AM newsletter reported Sept. 20: "The inaugural 'Global Faith and Media Index,' a partnership between The Radiant Foundation and HarrisX, is out today with these findings from a survey of 9,395 people in 18 countries:
- 63% said high-quality content on faith and religion is needed in their countries.
- 53% believe media coverage actively ignores religion as an aspect of society and culture.
- 61% said media coverage often perpetuates faith-based stereotypes rather than addresses and protects against them.
"The findings, commissioned by the Faith & Media Initiative, will be unveiled today at the Concordia Annual Summit in New York. Explore the findings."
How well does your local media – television, radio, websites and newspapers – cover religion in your area? Might be time to take a closer look. Here are some tips from two professional groups, United Methodist Association of Communicators and Religion Communicators Council:
- Develop a relationship with a local reporter. Give them solid facts about religious activity in your community and offer tips on stories. Every reporter needs good local contacts.
- Send releases about your church's activities regularly to media outlets. Once you set up a format in a word processing program, it's easier to get out the news.
- Write op-eds and letters for the editorial page. Don't be afraid to say you're supporting a cause because it's a religious imperative for you.
In short, don't expect media folks to come looking for stories about religion if they don't know about religion. Help educate them about faith groups' many benefits to the community and become allies with local media in factual reporting and standing up for truth, not misinformation.
Here endeth the lesson.
Religion & Race grant applications open
If your congregation is having trouble getting an anti-racism, conflict resolution or other community inclusion project off the ground, consider applying for a grant from the General Commission on Religion and Race's CORR Action Fund.
According GCORR's press release, "the 2022-2023 grant program will provide up to $10,000 to fund projects that increase intercultural competency and support vital conversations about race, cultural diversity, and systemic equity leading to action.
"UMC churches and other UMC entities are invited to apply for funding by submitting a proposal that:
- demonstrates bold and innovative thinking,
- reaches more people, younger people, and more diverse people,
- results in long-term change that could be replicated in other local churches, districts, conferences, or other entities within the UMC, and
- utilizes existing GCORR resources.
CAF Committee Chair, Rev. Dr. Stephen Handy, says in the press release, "The CORR Action Fund committee is thrilled about this new grant framework that focuses on reaching younger and more diverse people through the utilization of GCORR resources. This grant includes up to $10,000 as seed money. By investing in these types of relationships, people have the opportunity to create spaces and cultures of diversity, inclusiveness, equity, and justice. These grants, along with the GCORR resources, will help develop interculturally competent, innovative, and equitable leaders, churches, and communities that are willing to participate in shifting cultures of injustice and indifference so that people and spaces reflect the kingdom of God.”
The CAF grant program was established by the General Conference of The United Methodist Church for the empowerment of diversity, inclusion, and racial justice work both inside and outside the Church.
Applications are now open. This grant application cycle closes November 15, 2022. For more information and to apply, visit: www.gcorr.org/CAF.
Resilience Webinar Speakers
Sacred Sanctuaries: Resilience in God’s Marine Creation
Join ecumenical Creation Justice Ministries at a virtual workshop to explore the connection between science, faith, and sacred marine sanctuaries Thursday, September 29, 2022 @ 6:00 PM (ET). Register Here
Co-director Avery Davis Lamb writes: "October marks the 50th anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary Act, a groundbreaking law that authorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to designate and protect areas of the ocean. These areas need to be of special national significance including ecological, scientific, or cultural qualities to name a few.
"While the National Marine Sanctuary system helps to protect God's creation, it is not living up to its name. In many places, our marine sanctuaries are not being treated as sacred. Too often, they are not being protected from extraction and exploitation, which negatively affects the human and nonhuman communities that rely on the ocean. Join to hear from experts on the ecological and spiritual benefits of our National Marine Sanctuaries and how you can advocate to put the sacred back in sanctuaries."
Workshop speakers are:
- Dr. Kirsten Grorud-Colvert, Marine Ecologist and Assistant Professor in the Integrative Biology Department at Oregon State University.
- Hermina Glass-Hill, Georgia Field Representative at Oceana
- Helen Smith, Ocean Climate Action Associate at Creation Justice Ministries
Media Mentions as of Sept. 20, 2022
Trinity UMC to disaffiliate from United Methodist Church - Washington Daily News
Ukrainian family receives welcome from Aurora church – Aurora News-Register
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011. "Crisis Watch" is part of Insight's participation in Covering Climate Now, an interntional collaboration of some 500 media outlets committed to enhanced climate reporting. To reproduce this content elsewhere, please email Insight for permission.