Profile March 9, 1992 Issue

Reporting the news, praying for humanity

with contributions from Marla Crockett

When we tune in to our favorite radio news station or television channel, the major stories may not be about love and forgiveness. But at least one radio newswoman finds that she is in a better position to do objective and effective reporting if she is also working at her love for humanity and her love for God. Marla Crockett is currently news director with a major urban National Public Radio station. Until recently she had for five years anchored their Morning Edition program, starting work at 4 a.m. to compile news, edit, and coordinate the program. She has been in broadcast journalism for fifteen years.

Unquestionably, journalism has the responsibility to tell the truth, point up needs for reform, and help people stay awake to the challenges in our world. But some days when you turn on the news, it seems as though all you hear is that one thing after another is going wrong. Have you found that a challenge? That was a big challenge for me when I was anchoring, in particular. I would sit through four hours of nonstop news. There were some days that I let it get to me and other days when I seemed to be dulled because of the constant stream of reports. But there were still other days of greater clarity and compassion when I just tried to love. It is a struggle, but I found prayer did help me to be more alert.

How does trying to love help? Christ Jesus said at the time of his crucifixion, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." He was loving them because they didn't know any better. The things that are reported in the news—the accidents, the political scandals, the corruption, the wars and famine—come from a material sense of things, an ignorance of God. I think love and patience are called for. Part of my prayer is to recognize the opposite fact, the spiritual fact.

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Why is a Church so involved in news publishing?
March 9, 1992
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