Tag: journalism

Religion Unplugged

Seven tips for covering horrific events at houses of worship — and treating victims right

Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-In” features analysis, insights and top headlines from the world of faith. Got feedback or ideas for this column? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. I love journalism. I love my fellow journalists. But as I pointed out in last week’s column on the media barrage faced by minister Britt Farmer after a deadly shooting at his Texas church, I … Continue reading Seven tips for covering horrific events at houses of worship — and treating victims right

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Christian Chronicle

Story behind the story: How a busy weekend turned into front-page news

The behind-the-scenes narrative of our deadline coverage of the memorial events for Jack Evans Sr. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle TERRELL, Texas — Over the weekend, and on deadline for our December print edition, I made a 42-hour trip to this town 30 miles east of Dallas.  My mission: to cover the memorial events for Jack Evans Sr., the trailblazing longtime president of Southwestern Christian … Continue reading Story behind the story: How a busy weekend turned into front-page news

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Christian Chronicle, Poynter Institute, The Ross News

This journalist got a big scoop, only to watch Fox News steal his reporting — and his traffic

By Kelly McBride|Poynter Institute Bobby Ross Jr. is a veteran religion reporter and a man of faith. He edits The Christian Chronicle, an independent news organization serving the Church of Christ community. It was surprising, then, when Ross took to Twitter last week to call out a Fox News reporter. The cable TV network “aggregated”  (Ross will say “stole”) one of his best stories without doing its … Continue reading This journalist got a big scoop, only to watch Fox News steal his reporting — and his traffic

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
The Ross News

My son Keaton reports: Oklahoma opioid trial has national implications

By Bobby Ross Jr. My son Keaton is a general reporting intern for The Oklahoman. I was excited to see his story on the national implications of an ongoing trial against opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson at the top of Sunday’s front page. Keaton, a 22-year-old journalism major, will be a senior this fall at Oklahoma Christian University, where he will serve as editor-in-chief of the … Continue reading My son Keaton reports: Oklahoma opioid trial has national implications

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Christian Chronicle, Religion News Service, Washington Post

Oklahoma SPJ recognizes Bobby Ross Jr. with three first-place awards

By Bobby Ross Jr. I was honored to receive six awards — including first place in three categories — in the Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists’ annual contest. Winners were announced Saturday night at an awards banquet in Midwest City, recognizing content produced in 2018. (I was unable to attend due to a prior commitment.) The Christian Chronicle and Religion News Service compete in Division … Continue reading Oklahoma SPJ recognizes Bobby Ross Jr. with three first-place awards

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Christian Chronicle, The Ross News

Bobby Ross Jr.’s profile of disaster relief truck driver wins first in two national contests

By Bobby Ross Jr. OKLAHOMA CITY — After Hurricane Michael last year, I rode along with a disaster relief truck driver taking emergency supplies from Nashville, Tenn., to hard-hit Panama City, Fla. My “18 wheels and a heart to serve” piece earned a first-place award for personality article at the Evangelical Press Association’s annual convention this week. (UPDATE: The same story won first place for … Continue reading Bobby Ross Jr.’s profile of disaster relief truck driver wins first in two national contests

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
The Ross News

Year in review: My Top 10 most memorable stories of 2018

By Bobby Ross Jr.

My dream job would be pretty close to what I do right now: traveling all over the U.S. and even around the world to report the news.

I consider myself blessed to have enjoyed another (mostly) exciting year in journalism, including my full-time work with The Christian Chronicle and freelance gigs with media such as Religion News Service, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. (That’s not to mention my regular blogging for GetReligion.)

Since I love to look back and reflect, I compiled my Top 10 most memorable stories of 2018.

Here they are, in random order:

1. 25th anniversary of Waco inferno: I visited the Branch Davidian compound where David Koresh — leader of an apocalyptic religious sect known as the Branch Davidians — and 75 followers perished in a firestorm on April 19, 1993. My in-depth takeout for Religion News Service was picked up by USA Today. As part of that package, I did a Q&A with Bob Ricks, who was the face of the FBI during the Central Texas standoff — and whom I first interviewed a quarter-century earlier in the immediate wake of the siege.

Continue reading “Year in review: My Top 10 most memorable stories of 2018”
Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Christian Chronicle, The Ross News

Best Reporter winner: Bobby Ross Jr. honored by Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists

TULSA, Okla. — I was honored May 19 to win second place for “Best Reporter” from the Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists. The award recognized my 2017 stories on Syrian refugees in Canada, the 50th anniversary of the Detroit race riot, Hurricane Harvey disaster relief, a woman who confessed to murder after her baptism and a prom for special-needs teens and adults. Jennifer Palmer of Oklahoma … Continue reading Best Reporter winner: Bobby Ross Jr. honored by Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Christian Chronicle, The Ross News

Christian Chronicle again wins top national prize, plus four first-place honors for my stories

CHICAGO — For the fourth year in a row, The Christian Chronicle — where I serve as chief correspondent — was recognized as the top national or international newspaper in the Associated Church Press’ annual “Best of the Church Press” contest. I was blessed to receive six individual honors — including first place in four categories — at the April 20 awards banquet. In case … Continue reading Christian Chronicle again wins top national prize, plus four first-place honors for my stories

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.