The Problem With the Press, Part 1: Religion

[Valin]

Real Clear Politics:

Carl M. Cannon

April 15, 2013

 

I’ve always loved journalism. Born and raised in this industry, a newsroom has been my only professional home. But all is not well in our house.

 

(Snip)

 

 

These days, even when the best news organizations attempt to cover religion insightfully and sensitively, Bible illiteracy taints the effort. On Easter, “CBS Sunday Morning” aired a deeply respectful 7½-minute segment on the Virgin Mary. But that report was marred by the erroneous declaration by the reporter that John the Baptist was present at Jesus’ crucifixion.

 

Easter Sunday was also flummoxing editors at the New York Times. In its coverage of Francis’ first papal address, the Times wrote the following paragraph:

 

Easter is the celebration of the resurrection into heaven of Jesus, three days after he was crucified, the premise for the Christian belief in an everlasting life. In urging peace, Francis called on Jesus to “change hatred into love, vengeance into forgiveness, war into peace.”

 

 

(Snip)

 

The Times’ uncertain grasp prompted the religion-themed website Patheos to post one wag’s spoof of the paper’s correction:

 

In last Thursday’s story,“Americans excited to visit ‘ball parks,’” the sport of baseball was repeatedly spelled bayspall. The number of “bases” was given as five; the correct number is three. “Home plate” is a marker embedded in the ground, not a trophy awarded to the winner of the World Series. “Babe” Ruth was the popular nickname of George Herman Ruth Jr. (1895–1948), generally regarded the greatest baseballer of the early twentieth century, and not the African-American mistress of Brooklyn Dodgers owner Walter F. O’Malley, as stated in the article. The Times regrets the errors.

 

Inadvertently providing his own comic relief, a couple of days later radio host Don Imus claimed in an exchange with liberal columnist Kirsten Powers that “hundreds of gospels” were written, including one by Judas. “There’s an indication there,” Imus added, “that Jesus may have been gay.”

 

 

(Snip)