February 2015: GetReligion
News vs. advocacy: Time reports on an evangelical church coming out for same-sex marriage. Published Feb. 3. Context, please: About the ‘controversial statements’ by San Francisco’s ‘conservative’ archbishop. Published Feb. 4. Temptation, two Timothys and the Los Angeles Times’ take on a pastor to California lawmakers. Published Feb. 5. Same-sex wedding cakes: Journalistic framing again comes into play. Published Feb. 6. Washington Post delves deeper … Continue reading February 2015: GetReligion
Trips to baseball heaven: Fans share cherished memories of first major-league games
“Take me out to the ball game” is my blog on major-league ballparks and the wonders of witnessing America’s favorite pastime up close.
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By Bobby Ross Jr.
The stadium felt like a furnace — think obnoxious Texas heat in early July — when I walked into my first major-league baseball game at age 14.
By then, of course, I was already a big baseball fan, with thousands of baseball cards, an autographed picture of Pete Rose and a dream of growing up to do radio play-by-play.
For all the hours I had spent watching televised games and poring over newspaper box scores, though, I had never actually been to a game.
But in 1982, my family moved to Dallas-Fort Worth, and a heaven with the greenest grass I had ever seen beckoned us.
We made it to our bleacher seats in the bottom of the first inning, just as Texas Rangers slugger Larry Parrish stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. That Saturday was “Bat Day,” so 10,000 wooden bats banged thunderously against the concrete and the crowd roared at an obscene decibel as the ball sailed over the fence — a grand slam!
A young lifetime of rooting for the Cincinnati Reds suddenly vanished. I fell in love with the Rangers that day.
Sketching the Good News — nightly
Sketching the Good News — nightly (reporting from Shamokin Dam, Pa.): At a low point in his life, Bill Wiist found comfort in giving visual expression to holy words. SHAMOKIN DAM, Pa. — When Matthew A. Wiist left home for U.S. Marine Corps boot camp in 2009, he asked a favor of his father, Bill, a talented artist. The son requested that his dad pick an … Continue reading Sketching the Good News — nightly
Muhammad, satire and blasphemy: What Muslims really believe
Muhammad, satire & blasphemy: What Muslims really believe: http://t.co/TRTvxelJhw #CharlieHebdo #journalism pic.twitter.com/fNSk17KMyn — Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) January 8, 2015 Related posts: The obvious #religion angle in the #CharlieHebdo attack: http://t.co/nstnbVpflM #journalism pic.twitter.com/4OPHmTHXO1 — Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) January 7, 2015 As many as 2,000 dead in #Nigeria, but #France dominates front pages: http://t.co/gMNPifuVyz #religion #journalism pic.twitter.com/0uo5KxMoob — Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) January 13, 2015 … Continue reading Muhammad, satire and blasphemy: What Muslims really believe
January 2015: GetReligion
‘Devout Muslim’ killer?: New York Times profiles gunman who assassinated two New York City police officers. Published Jan. 3. Welcome to 2015: New year brings happy new developments to the Godbeat. Published Jan. 6. At least 12 dead as terrorists strike French satirical newspaper ‘that lampooned the Prophet Mohammad.’ Published Jan. 7. Muhammad, satire and blasphemy: In wake of Charlie Hebdo attack, exploring what Muslims … Continue reading January 2015: GetReligion
The year in tweets: My top stories, blog posts and columns of 2014
Journalists love year-end lists.
This is mine.
Via Twitter, some of my top stories, blog posts and columns of 2014, along with a personal tweet or two:
Continue reading “The year in tweets: My top stories, blog posts and columns of 2014”
His dad was a preacher — and a pedophile
After discovering his father’s secret, Jimmy Hinton strives to create awareness of sexual predators. First Place, Feature Writing, Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists Second Place, Feature Article, Associated Church Press (a different story of mine won first place in this category) Honorable mention (part of three-story portfolio), Magazine News Religion Reporting, Religion News Association By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle SOMERSET, Pa. — Jimmy Hinton grew up at the … Continue reading His dad was a preacher — and a pedophile
‘Worship is our protest’
In Ferguson, a predominantly black church focuses on healing its community by glorifying God. First Place, News Story, Associated Church Press Honorable mention (part of three-story portfolio), Magazine News Religion Reporting, Religion News Association By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle FERGUSON, Mo. — Brian Owens feels a need to protest. But his protest doesn’t involve waving a “hands up, don’t shoot” sign, staging a “die-in” or … Continue reading ‘Worship is our protest’
5Q+1 interview: RNS writer David Gibson on the Godbeat, falling into journalism and his conversion to Catholicism
5Q+1 interview: RNS writer David Gibson on the Godbeat, falling into journalism and his conversion to Catholicism. GETRELIGION.ORG — On his Twitter profile, Religion News Service national reporter David Gibson describes himself as a Catholic convert, a Vatican veteran, a faith fan and an alliteration addict. His RNS bio notes that he has written two books on Catholic topics, including a biography of Pope Benedict XVI. … Continue reading 5Q+1 interview: RNS writer David Gibson on the Godbeat, falling into journalism and his conversion to Catholicism
Faith. Family. Fastballs. 