More reporters should tag along with an interview subject. As someone who has gone on ride-a-longs with cops in New Orleans and followed politicians in Washington, I have found that being in a subject’s physical presence is essential, enabling me to see the world from their eyes and walk in their shoes.
A tale of the undead
ABC’s Good Morning America had a bit about author Anne Rice the other day that caught my attention. Rice is the best-selling American author of vampire tales who has recently written a couple of religious-themed books:
Atheism in the military
Earlier this week an atheist in the U.S. military filed a lawsuit claiming that the Army had violated his right to be an atheist. Only the Associated Press has covered this very interesting situation. What was produced only gives one side of the story partly because the military, as one would expect, refused to comment on pending legal matters.
Forcing a narrative
When former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee officially ended his bid for the presidency on Tuesday night, he said he’ll do whatever is necessary to get Republican nominee John McCain elected. But Washington Post reporter Perry Bacon — who has been on the Huckabeat — had an interesting story. Huckabee’s staffers have already begun preparing for a future run:
Call to prayer
Normally we don’t write about columns in mainstream papers. But far too often columns in mainstream papers are nothing more than ego-filled rants. But The Baltimore Sun had such a great column this week that I have to highlight it here.
Does the "Baptist left" really exist?
There’s a story unfolding down in Fort Worth, Texas, that raises an old issue about journalistic style. It’s one we’ve talked about here at GetReligion quite a bit, because New York Times editor Bill Keller raised it in his response to his newspaper’s self study not that long ago.
Does Obama have a white Catholic problem?
Home is not where the school is
A recent California appellate court ruling raises major questions about whether parents have the right to educate their children. While the ruling will be appealed, parents who homeschool their children are reacting to their uncertain future.
Moment of silence reconsidered
The people have spoken in the great state of Illinois, and the law that required the state’s school students to pray or reflect for a moment every day seems to be on the way out. After passing twice through the state’s legislature (the second time by a supermajority due to the governor’s veto), the law that seemed like a good idea at the time looks like a goner.
