Controversy: Media in the Middle

As a Christian journalist, how do you cover highly controversial issues, such as abortion, war or gay rights, and still maintain a sense of balance in the story? As our last interview indicated, you have to get as many voices as possible into the story.

Start with the official voice -- the leader or spokesperson from each side of the issue. Then move on to the unusual protester, the poignant demonstration, or just the loner with something to say on the subject. After that, listen to the masses. If the demonstration is noisy, listen for shouts that rise above the din. If the protest is silent, quietly move among the crowd asking questions.

Then, when you have collected as many voices as possible, begin to create a well-balanced report that tells the stories of those on both sides of the issue. Keep your own voice for your column or commentary.

You'll know you've done well, if both sides call to complain.

Interview: Robert Gutsche, Jr.

Dr. Robert Gutsche, Jr. is a Journalism professor in Miami. He was raised in a Christian home and has been a reporter for various newspapers since 1996. He earned his Ph.D. in Mass Communications from University of Iowa and has written the book "Race, place and the press: Creating Iowa's rural ghetto."

Although he keeps his Christianity "close to the vest" for political reasons, he said he brings his personal values to each story he writes.

"If you have a certain belief or faith, you can't set it aside; it's part of all you do," he said. "It's not about choosing a story or not; it's about how you cover it."

However, the way his faith comes into play in covering the story depends on the story.

"When I see something that's blatantly wrong," he said, "I'm going to overturn some money-changing tables."

In that sense, when he sees someone or some group in authority -- public officials, business owners, educators -- doing wrong, fairness and equity tend to go out the window. He said he has a keen sense of righteous anger that drives him to seek the truth.

On the other hand, when the subject of a story is someone in crisis mode, he tends to be caring and compassionate.

"Compassion has become a very ingrained emotion for me," he said. "It drives how I operate as a journalist."

Speaking from the viewpoint of a journalist with a Christian background, Gutsche likens a journalist to a preacher in the pulpit. He said the history of American journalism is one of pointing out corruption, which is something a preacher or people of faith are supposed to care about.

"I have no problem working with the 'left' to stand up for the rights of working people," he said. "Journalists should be more opinionated and interested in the rights of the people we cover."

As for balance in a story, Gutsche at first said that he doesn't know that any journalist has ever written a story that has been truly, perfectly balanced. But when he writes about a highly controversial topic, he strives to achieve some level of balance by stacking the story with as many sources as he can.

"I try to get as many voices as possible," he said. "You're going to hear a lot more of the voices of other people in my story."

Although Gutsche tends to keep his faith out of his articles, he has let it show on occasion in the opinion pieces he has written. For instance, in one opinion piece he wrote about Christmas being a true holiday and quoted the Bible.

Because he has kept his faith private, Gutsche said he has seldom felt persecuted for it personally.

"But any time you're part of a group," he said, "you have a responsibility to find out what people are saying about that group. When people say things about Christians or whatever group I'm a part of, that affects me as well."

Ultimately, Gutsche has a passion for what is right, and that passion tempers every area of his life.

Integrity: Comparing apples and oranges

 

 

Christian integrity. Journalistic integrity. Are they one and the same? Is one a subset of the other? Or are we comparing apples and oranges?

 

The Society of Professional Journalists' code of ethics states, "Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalists' credibility." According to Merriam-Webster, integrity is the quality of being honest and fair.

 

Honesty and fairness are both biblical principles. In fact, they are two of the top three listed in the "think on these things" verse (Philippians 4:8).

 

To a Christian, integrity means to be truthful, to be honest with himself and with others, and to be fair in his or her treatment of people. Journalistic integrity means the same thing.

 

But what does this integrity "look like?" To us as journalists, integrity means the facts are right, and the story is balanced. This may sound like a simple statement, but a realm of principles lies behind it - quoting accurately and within context, checking the factuality of comments made by sources, interviewing people on both sides of an issue, etc.

 

Now take the template of Christian integrity and lay it over journalistic integrity. The Christian journalist will make sure the facts are right, because the Bible says, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." He or she will be fair and unbiased in treatment of the story and of the people involved in the story, because the Bible says, "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him."

 

Because we as Christian journalists are first and foremost Christians, we need to remember that we are called to reach the lost. While we have opportunities to have our words in front of the multitudes, we need to remember to reach people like we would in any other profession - one at a time as we come into contact with them.

 

The way Jesus did this was through compassion. In the same way, we need to see the people we interview as lost souls and have compassion on them. Treat them with respect; treat their story with respect. And as God gives opportunity, we can share our faith with them.

 

This is what will make the Christian journalist in the secular media stand out like the orange in a sea of apples. As time goes on, we can take a look at how the Christian journalist responds in specific situations, but the underlying motivations should be compassion for a lost and dying world, and integrity in all we do, say, and write.