Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Alabama Baptist
Search
Close this search box.
The Alabama Baptist
Search
Close this search box.
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Classifieds
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Classifieds
  • Free Email Newsletter

Rashional Thoughts: Community news, media outlets keep professional efforts alive

  • May 3, 2022
  • Jennifer Davis Rash
  • Editorials, Latest News, Opinion, Rashional Thoughts
Alabama State University junior Amayah Williams experiences her first simulated live newscast April 21 as part of end-of-semester assignments in the class that prepares students for broadcast journalism careers. The students are learning a wide range of skills in the radio and TV track, including the importance of fact-based news reporting.
Photo by Jennifer Davis Rash/The Alabama Baptist

Rashional Thoughts: Community news, media outlets keep professional efforts alive

Recent conversations with students studying journalism and mass media give me hope. So do updates from college and university faculty members and reporters, editors and producers of our Alabama-based newspapers, TV newscasts and multimedia outlets.

As we’ve engaged with representatives of our Alabama Baptist schools and our state schools through our partnership with Alabama Press Association, we hear them speak of the importance of a trustworthy news source.

It’s comforting to know the ethics of professional journalism are being taught and embraced, to know the next generation grasps the importance of seeking truth, fact-checking and countering false rumors.

While the way news is shared continues to change, the foundational elements of accuracy, fairness, clarity and integrity should remain.

Another encouraging aspect we’ve discovered points to the value of relationships, something we as believers truly understand. No matter how often we study the latest trends in culture, we always circle back to the importance of authentic and consistent relationships. Relationships are built on trust, and trust is a precious commodity.

Research groups such as Knight, Pew and others continue to report how community newspapers and local TV stations (combined with the digital versions of each) outrank national news year after year.

According to the National Newspaper Association, a March survey by Susquehanna Polling and Research Inc. found local newspapers received high rankings when it comes to informing the reader in general (93% agreed), providing shopping and advertising information (81% agreed) and sharing local news (83% agreed).

While a growing number of national media sources have lost the trust of many consumers, we can be encouraged by the work taking place in our communities.

Local media sources aren’t perfect, but they truly care about the communities where they exist and are closer to the everyday lives of the people. This brings us back to trust and relationships because the people working to understand and report the news of the day are our neighbors. They are our friends and many times community leaders.

It might not always seem like it, but solid reporting is taking place across the state by media professionals who are working hard to follow the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics: seek truth and report it, minimize harm, act independently and be accountable and transparent.

The Alabama Baptist is proud to be part of the trusted news sources. Our team also seeks ways to invest in the next generation as well as encourage our peers across the state.

The national outlets will come around soon if we help them understand how consumption of content created with motives outside the boundaries of traditional media ethics is harmful. It has the potential to create exaggerated fear, anger and hostility. It changes us.

Here are a couple of hints for determining if your preferred news source might need muting for a bit:

  1. If your blood pressure rises and stays elevated.
  2. If you know how the reporter sharing the information feels about the situation and/or if the reporter tells you how you should feel about the situation rather than strictly reporting the news with credible sources outside himself or herself.

Share with others:

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on email
Email

Latest News

  • China closes three college campus ministries
    China closes three college campus ministries
    June 4, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Ripple effects: Supporting women who evangelize families
    Ripple effects: Supporting women who evangelize families
    June 3, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Meadow Brook Deaf ministry unites believers in worship, outreach
    Meadow Brook Deaf ministry unites believers in worship, outreach
    June 3, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

green leaf with water droplets

Coping with mental illness: How to remain sweet when things get sour

May 30, 2023

What does it take to maintain a “lemonade” friendship? How do you remain “sweet” when things get “sour”? Here are

Heroes of the Faith — John Henry Jowett possibly ‘greatest preacher in the English-speaking world’

April 29, 2023

John Henry Jowett (1864–1923) may have been the “greatest preacher in the English-speaking world,” according to author and pastor Warren

empty room

Opinion: Alabama families are the real pipeline to prison

March 21, 2023

I have done prison ministry for as long as I have been in pastoral ministry. There is one thing I

Your Voice

January 26, 2023

Pro-life movement not over The future of the pro-life movement is growing much more complex. We are not merely fighting

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos
  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy
  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
The Alabama Baptist
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 The Alabama Baptist, Inc.
  • Privacy Policy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
Email:
news@thealabamabaptist.org

About

  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos
  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy
  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service

Log In

Lost your password?

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel