🇺🇸 Trump’s Comeback: What It Means For Immigrants, People Of Faith And The Press 🔌

This week’s Weekend Plug-in explores three key storylines after the election — again — of Donald Trump as president.

Salem Media Pulls Election Conspiracy Film ‘2,000 Mules’ from All Platforms

Salem Media Group, the largest U.S. radio company providing Christian and conservative programming, is removing the book and film “2,000 Mules” from all its platforms. The group also apologized to a Georgia man who filed a defamation suit, claiming the film falsely accused him of ballot fraud during the 2020 presidential election.

‘The Hong Konger’: A Candid Look At Jimmy Lai's Struggle Against Chinese Totalitarianism

(REVIEW) Jimmy Lai wasn’t terribly interested in Christianity for most of his life, but his wife was passionate about it, so he went to church for her. Yet, when he embraced it, he found its ability to give comfort and meaning in his fight against the evil in the world to be something he valued.

Celebrating World Press Freedom Day And Religious Freedom

(ANALYSIS) It is vital to recognize the broad scope of religion itself and hence of religious freedom. Religion is not a separate, isolated segment of human existence. It is not merely what people do with their solitude. It is not only acts of worship on a Sunday, Sabbath or Friday. It is not simply adherence to creeds or doctrines. Religion is one of the fundamental shapers of human life.

It’s time Catholics (and all Americans) examine the role of news media in society

(OPINION) A two-day conference on the current state of journalism — co-sponsored by Catholic broadcaster EWTN and Franciscan University of Steubenville — examined why objectivity has disappeared, threats to freedom of speech and the hostility some in the mainstream have towards Catholics.

Evangelical Magazines Prioritize Truth During Ravi Zacharias Scandal

(OPINION) Richard Ostling commends journalists at Christianity Today and World for prioritizing truth over tribalism in the case of sexual assault claims against Ravi Zacharias. Both publications seek to prioritize the community over the reputation of the religion.

Opinion, Conflict, News, Press Freedom, ReligionRichard OstlingOctober 8, 2020opinion, Richard Ostling, sexual assault, scandal, Ravi Zacharias, ChristianityComment

How we should reconcile free speech with hate

(OPINION) An Israeli Jewish journalist proposes a solution to offending monuments that’s straight out of the Old Testament.

China and Human Rights: ‘Then They Came For Me, And There Was No One Left To Speak For Me’

(OPINION) With these words Martin Niemoller criticized our silence in the eyes of evil, silence that amounts to complicity in the crimes. These words are as relevant now as they were during War World II in the case of human rights violations in China.

This journalist did her job: She hopes it didn't expose her to COVID-19

The 27-year-old San Antonio Express-News reporter hopes her dedication to her profession didn’t expose her to the coronavirus.

Kashmir’s Internet blocked for six months and counting

An Internet ban in Kashmir is causing job losses and hardships for students, journalists and everyday people living isolated from the rest of the country and the world. Government-provided computer terminals can only be accessed after traveling and hours of waiting in line, and all activities online are monitored.

The Best of Religion Journalism in 2019

The Media Project staff, board and members worldwide submitted nominations for the best efforts in religion journalism that we admired most in 2019.

Kashmiris worry about their future as Indian government relaxes lockdown

As the Indian government’s communication ban reaches two weeks, it announced that 50,000 landline connections have been restored for calls after crowds surged last week to the few phones available from government offices. Internet and mobile networks remain shut.

The real story of America's bloody struggle for religious freedom

We talked with Steven Waldman, founder of BeliefNet and author of the new book Sacred Liberty, about America’s battles for religious freedom— how the notion that the US was founded with religious liberty in mind is wrong— our current challenges for preserving it, and much more.

Mainstream press continues to ignore French church vandalism incidents

(COMMENTARY) A month after the Notre Dame blaze, there continues to be little to no coverage when it comes to the rash of suspicious fires and vandalism that plagued French churches in the weeks before the Paris incident, which was quickly deemed unintentional by Parisian authorities.

Kenyan media calls New York Times racist for images of terror attack

(NEWS ANALYSIS) The Media Council of Kenya, the sector's regulator in the country, is demanding that the New York Times take down a graphic photo of a terrorist attack in Nairobi, threatening to withdraw accreditation of its journalists working in Kenya.

Prayers for Venezuela: Faith and famine in the ongoing economic crisis

Every day, state control intensifies at every level. All forms of demonstrations are prohibited. Cities across Venezuela have become militarized zones littered with heavily-armed soldiers and tanks. My friends, who are also journalists, have been fired from reporting the truth.

As European blasphemy laws endure, journalists should consider how words can get them in trouble

(COMMENTARY) This is an issue journalists — whether they’re writing opinion/analysis pieces or constructing hard news stories — should stay tuned into to avoid crossing the wrong side of a shifting line.

A Christian’s acquittal in Pakistan is fueling advocacy against "blasphemy"

After the unprecedented acquittal of a Christian from blasphemy charges, Pakistan is bowing to pressure from hardline Islamist groups to ban her exit from the Muslim-majority country.

The Death of Free Speech in Europe

(COMMENTARY) Europe took a dystopian turn last week when the European Court of Human Rights ruled that governments can punish citizens for criticizing the prophet Muhammad if such criticism “conflicts with the right of others to have their religious feelings protected.”

The Media Project's 2018 Coaching & Leadership Fellows

TMP’s flagship Coaching & Leadership Fellowship program just wrapped up in St. Petersburg, Fla., where we hosted a week-long workshop Oct. 7-13 at the Poynter Institute. Fellows participated in a series of interactive sessions on leadership principles they can use in their newsrooms. strategic thinking, global fact-checking, social media, coaching writers, using feedback, resolving conflict, and improving newsroom collaboration.

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