Tag: journalism

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”
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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

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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

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Christian Chronicle, The Ross News

For third year in a row, Christian Chronicle named top newspaper by Associated Church Press

My Christian Chronicle colleague Chellie Ison reports: CHICAGO — For the third year in a row, The Christian Chronicle has earned top honors in the “Best of the Christian Press” contest, sponsored by the Associated Church Press. The Chronicle was awarded the first-place “Award of Excellence” in the prestigious “Best in Class” category for national and international newspapers. “The Christian Chronicle is consistently well planned, written, … Continue reading For third year in a row, Christian Chronicle named top newspaper by Associated Church Press

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Christian Chronicle, The Ross News

Trump coverage wins first-place SPJ award for election reporting

My stories on Donald Trump and other Republican candidates campaigning in Oklahoma City last year earned a first-place award for election reporting. I received the honor in the Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists’ 2017 contest. The winning package included the main story “In the GOP primaries, do politics Trump values and character?” along with a column “GOP presidential politics, professional wrestling style” and a related story “Elephant in the pews: Is the … Continue reading Trump coverage wins first-place SPJ award for election reporting

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The Ross News

25 years ago, a young reporter (me) got a scoop on the president of the United States

Above: At a 1992 campaign rally, John Fletcher directs the Oklahoma Christian University band as the crowd welcomes President George H.W. Bush. (Photo provided by John Fletcher) By Bobby Ross Jr. | therossnews@gmail.com During the 1992 race for the White House, I was a young reporter — all of 24 years old — for the Edmond Evening Sun. In the caveman era before email, the Internet and … Continue reading 25 years ago, a young reporter (me) got a scoop on the president of the United States

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Religion Unplugged

5Q+1 interview: Melissa Binder on the thriving Godbeat in America’s least-religious city

5Q+1 interview: Melissa Binder on the thriving Godbeat in America’s least-religious city Melissa Binder is rocking the Godbeat in one of the unlikeliest of places – Portland, Ore. “Who else is going to tell you what religion in the rest of the United States might look like in 50 years?” The Oregonian writer responds when asked about covering faith and values in America’s least-religious city. Binder’s … Continue reading 5Q+1 interview: Melissa Binder on the thriving Godbeat in America’s least-religious city

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Religion Unplugged

5Q+1 interview: Pulitzer winner on the Godbeat, the Charleston shooting and black church fires

5Q+1 interview: Pulitzer winner Jennifer Berry Hawes on the Godbeat, the Charleston shooting and black church fires Just a few months ago, veteran religion writer Jennifer Berry Hawes celebrated winning the Pulitzer Prize. Hawes, a projects writer for the The Post and Courier in Charleston, S.C., worked on the team that produced “Till Death Do Us Part,” a project on domestic violence that earned journalism’s … Continue reading 5Q+1 interview: Pulitzer winner on the Godbeat, the Charleston shooting and black church fires

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Religion Unplugged

5Q+1 interview: Daniel Burke on CNN Belief, ‘The Friendly Atheists Next Door’ and the next big religion story

5Q+1: @BurkeCNN on @CNNBelief, friendly #atheists and his next big #religion story: http://t.co/3LaL1aBVio pic.twitter.com/rWEmx0KwpR — GetReligion (@GetReligion) March 24, 2015 He survived a @GetReligion interview, but will @BurkeCNN's friendly #atheist story endure our critique?: http://t.co/SVvk9sfhPF #journalism — GetReligion (@GetReligion) March 28, 2015 This analysis of media coverage appears online at GetReligion.org. Continue reading 5Q+1 interview: Daniel Burke on CNN Belief, ‘The Friendly Atheists Next Door’ and the next big religion story

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