MAGNOLIA MINDS: 4 filters for pastors in an age of endless headlines
By Andrew Harper
A pastor recently asked on Facebook, “What news organization should I use to keep updated on news?” Needless to say, there was a plethora of thoughts and opinions. Some pointed to helpful apps and podcasts to listen to each week, but across the board, there was a great deal of skepticism toward news in general.
News stories arrive faster than ever, ranging from political scandals to tragedies, and many expect pastors to offer wise responses to each. With online news organizations popping up here and there and the growth of “fake news,” here are four filters to keep in mind while keeping up to date.
Local
The first place you should be in the know about is your place. If you are a local church pastor, knowing what is happening locally not only helps you serve your area as an informed citizen but also as an informed pastor.
It is often said that a pastor should smell like his sheep. This principle can be applied to spending time catching up on the news. The pastor should also know which sheep are running for local office, what changes are coming up for the sheep school, and the next community event all his sheep will be attending.
This is not to say that a pastor should be the mayor of a town, but he should know what is going on in the life of his town. We are so tempted to be aware of the new breaking headline that will be forgotten in a week, or catch up on the newest social media trend. When we know these things but don’t know who is running in the local election or what is supported in the new bond proposal, focus has been fumbled. Many news stories that lay hold of the new cycle might have little to do with the people around you, so first give your attention there.
Outside of serving as a pastor, there is little margin to consume news and media, so when it does happen, focus on local first. Pick up that local newspaper, sign up for that e-newsletter, or tune into the local radio station and get caught up about what is happening in the world physically around you.
Established
If the news organization you are staying connected with never printed a newspaper, proceed with caution. This is not to say that those news organizations or networks that never had print media are not truthful, but they are not nearly as established as others.
In the world of social media, several news organizations that engage in “reporting” have YouTube channels and social media accounts. There is no legacy of journalism to uphold, nor an editorial board they answer to, in what they produce. Almost all established news organizations have a code of journalistic ethics because what is written in a newspaper is printed for all to see. There is evidence of false reporting; their error is on display in black and white. Many unestablished organizations do not print corrections for stories they get wrong or misreport because they can simply delete the post and move on.
Now I know the push back; I hear it already. Most established news organizations founded by a newspaper, rather than a YouTube channel, tend to lean more liberal in their coverage of politics, policy, and ethics in some areas. That is a fair criticism, but most of them give space to Christians and evangelical engagement. This comes through opinion pieces, articles, and stories that express Christian views on a topic or issue, as well as podcasts or interviews. Lastly, if you engage in news with the next filter, this issue will begin to diminish.
I think there is an argument to be made that TV and social media are the worst developments in news since the dawn of journalism. There are some positives to these media and how they convey news, but by and large, their addition to journalism might be a net negative.
Neil Postman would agree in his work “Amusing Ourselves to Death.” He speaks of how television news uses rapid transitions and short segments to jump from one story to another, turning news into entertainment rather than civic discussion. A screen simply turns all public discourse into entertainment. Americans no longer talk to each other; they entertain each other. If this were the case when a screen was only in our living room, the effects have been compounded by carrying a screen in our pocket.
Taking in the news this way is overwhelming, anxiety-producing, and can be desensitizing. News through the medium of print requires a slower pace. Attention is given to the facts, the details, and the work of journalism in conveying a story. Print news helps bring back limits that infinite scroll cannot provide. This is not to say you need to sign up for a weekly newspaper delivery, though it would not be a bad idea. Instead, when you want to know what is going on locally or globally, seek news stories and updates that have been written. Newspaper, online articles, and updates in your news app are all avenues to access print news coverage. Engaging through print ensures your time spent catching up on the news is informative rather than entertaining, as can be the case with video news.
Another benefit of utilizing the written word is that bias and slant are much easier to detect. Written news can be processed and thought over like a book, and analyzed for clarity, tone, facts, and argumentation. Even if you are to pick up the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal, which many would say have a more liberal or left-leaning slant, you can still see the story and facts through the bias. Good journalism is good journalism, and it is clearest in print media.
Limited
Lastly, time spent taking in the news should be limited. We were created with limits, but our Information Age is determined to challenge those limits. We have infinite scroll in social media apps as if we are to give our every waking moment to them. We have a news cycle that runs 24/7, as if we are always supposed to be up to date on every news story produced.
Just because we have access does not mean we owe it our attention. It is good to know what is going on locally in your community. Grab a newspaper and spend some time reading it. When you finish, you’ve probably had about all the news you need for the day.
Pastors are not usually served well by keeping their heads in the sand, nor by having their eyes glued to a screen. Prioritize the area around you, find established news sources, read your news, and give it a limited amount of time and attention. Use these four filters to help you find the balance between the two extremes and serve your people in a world of endless headlines.
Harper is the Adult Ministry Consultant at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board.