January 8, 2010. Specialized journalism has never been easy. Focusing on an issue and knowing how to explain it to the public is an art. An art that’s a lot more complicated when dealing with religion.
Religious information broadcasts more than tapings of religious ceremonies, televangelists and scandals. It’s doing quality journalism.
Jorge Milan
Author
“There’s a lack of depth and explanation, there needs to be an effort to construct narrative in order to create history or at least to tell stories that today’s public will be interested in.”
Jorge Milan, a professor at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, has published this book, “Religion in TV.”
Telling stories, looking at people and not personalities behind the person being interviewed is what requires very specialized information.
Jorge Milan
Author
“Religious journalism could focus more on folkloric aspects and be scandalous but anyone can do that. However to offer true religious information, for example like interviewing a missionary and discovering why he’s working in a country to spread his religion, that requires people with special sensitivity.”
Knowing how to profoundly reflect this type of information without being sensational, or without using technical language the public at large doesn’t understand, requires a great deal of effort in the part of the journalist. According to Milan, the “know-how” comes with years and years so of studying and an effort to offer quality journalism.
His book “Religion in TV” can help many reach just that. A book for journalists and non-journalists who believe religious information goes beyond first impressions and emotions. A book for true communication professionals.
BR/MC
FF/GDP
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