wfn.org | How can you keep up with the fast pace of new stories?

["RCCongress 2010" <webmaster@rccongress2010.org>]

When news stories that were posted four hours ago are old, how in the
world can you keep up?

>by Melodie Davis

>CHICAGO (RCCongress2010) April 8, 2010

Octogenarian Dr. Martin Marty, professor emeritus of the University of
Chicago Divinity School and renowned religion historian, moderated a
Thursday morning panel addressing the changing media landscape for
participants in the April 7-10 gathering of faith communicators,
Religion Communication Congress 2010.

Panelists included Kevin Eckstrom, editor of Religion News Service,
who teaches at Northwestern University School of Journalism; Barbara
Bradley Hagerty, religion beat reporter for National Public Radio and
author of Fingerprints of God; and Kenneth Irby, founder of the
photojournalism program at the Poynter Institute and head of the
institute's visual journalism group.

Moderator Marty opened the discussion with a reminder to the audience
that from the perspective of religious history it "often takes 250
years to settle an issue." Eckstrom, who spoke of some of the
difficulties wrought by the social media revolution, said truth,
objectivity and credibility can suffer because of the speed at which
information now moves through tweets, blogs and other new media.

"I can't write as fast as I need to," Eckstrom noted.

On the positive side, these same social media offer writers more
direct contact with spokespersons - from religious leaders to
politicians and celebrities - who they are able to access through
social media pages without having to rely on public relations officers
or agents.

Hagerty said her job at National Public Radio (NPR) is to wade through
the mountain of materials available everywhere - she recently was
asked to skim 10,000 pages of court documents in 45 minutes for a
story - but that her best and most unique story ideas still come the
old fashioned way: from talking to people about their ideas and
experiences and finding a unique or interesting angle.

"Those are the stories that get 1,000 comments on the NPR web site
like (snapping her fingers) that." One example, she said, was the
story that explored the question, "Which is more violent, the Bible or
the Koran?"

Irby, who also is a pastor, said that in the age of the "always on and
the 20 second deadline" the role of journalists is to be "sense
makers." He believes that community building can and does happen
through social networks but that the danger of some networks lies in
users accessing only links connected their Facebook friends, and not
taking advantage of a wider diet.

"You have to work to get and present a balanced view," Irby pointed
out.

Audience members lined up at the microphones to ask questions of
panelists, who agreed that the social networking explosion is still in
its infancy.

Hagerty reminded the audience that "Reporters want to get it right. If
the media call asking for a comment or viewpoint, talk to us, even if
it can't be on the record. It will be a better story if we have good
background."

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Melodie Davis, a member of the RCCongress2010 communications
committee, is staff writer and producer for Third Way Media

Media Contact: Lesley Crosson, RCCongress2010, 347-513-4030

http://www.rccongress2010.org/news/changingsocietychangingmediapanel.s
html

The Religion Communication Congress (RCCongress 2010) is an
international, interfaith gathering of religion communicators held
every ten years offering cutting edge skills-building workshops,
challenging plenary speakers, and networking opportunities with
communications professionals. For more information, visit
http://www.rccongress2010.org/.