Faith and media centre launches
Faith groups often complain that reporters aren't interested in news about religion unless it involves sexual or financial scandals and journalists largely shun the religion beat because they perceive it be about bake sales and soup kitchens.
Bridging the gap between the two sides is at the core of a new Calgary-based organization dedicated to helping media and faith groups better understand one another.
The Centre for Faith and the Media was kicked off with two events in Calgary and Toronto on December 10.
"There is a wealth of stories about religion out there," says Richelle Wiseman, managing director for the centre. "Enormous resources are poured into the coverage of sports.
What about the coverage of our souls?"
The centre has established a Web site (www.faithandmedia.org) and produced guides on Christianity, Islam and Judaism to help media better understand faith communities in Canada, says Wiseman. Other services to be provided include workshops for working journalists and journalism students on religion, media relations programs for religious groups and polling and research into the issues of faith and the media.
Following a "Faith and the Media" conference held in Ottawa in 1998, former Calgary Herald religion editor Gordon Legge put together a proposal and business plan for a federal grant to start the centre. The federal government provided a $350,000 grant over three years in the fall of 2002.
Federal Secretary of State for Multiculturalism Jean Augustine spoke at the launch in Toronto about the need to promote multiculturalism and diversity but largely avoided how religion is portrayed in the media or viewed by public policy makers in Canada.
Richard Landau, a producer and on-air host with Crossroads Television Systems (CTS) in Burlington, Ontario, welcomed the centre as a "valuable asset because religion is a typically a ghetto in media coverage."
Landau says the centre has a great opportunity to educate reporters and editors about issues of faith and morality and help faith communities "tell their stories."
Barrie Doyle, president of Gateway Communications and director of communications for the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada, says faith communities often "shot themselves in the foot" when it comes to media and ignore "opinion shapers" in favour of government officials when it comes to issues such as same-sex marriage.
"Faith is a complex, deeply intrinsic issue. Media can't handle the complexities, and want simple answers. I applaud the centre's efforts."
Wiseman says the centre has applied for charitable status and is seeking stable funding to ensure its long-term viability after the federal grant runs out in 2006.
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