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Christian publications exist in part because the mainstream media is either antagonistic to or, at a minimum, tone-deaf to the concerns of evangelical Christians. 2008 provided no shortage of reminders of this reality.
More Than 1,000 Newspapers Accept Gay ‘Wedding’ Announcements. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) in 2008 heralded the fact that 1,049 newspapers across the nation now accept “wedding” announcements from same-sex couples. In the six years since GLAAD launched its Announcing Equality campaign targeting newspapers, the percentage of dailies that run same-sex “wedding” announcements rose from 5 percent to 72 percent. Same-sex “marriage” is recognized only in California and Massachusetts, yet all 50 states have newspapers that print such “wedding” announcements. Of course, during that same period, mainstream newspapers have seen a huge decline in both readership and profits. So far, GLAAD is not taking credit for that.
Media Wrong About “New Evangelicals.” For years, the mainstream media have insisted that evangelicals are split in two — those who focus on marriage and the sanctity of human life, and those who fight global warming and poverty. Not so, says the Rev. Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church and author of “The Purpose Driven Life.” He told The Wall Street Journal there’s been a misunderstanding by the media. “A lot of people hear (about a broader agenda) and they think, ‘Oh, evangelicals are giving up on believing that life begins at conception.’ They’re not giving up on that at all. Not at all.” Though the media seem to crave a good fight, Warren was unable to name any theological issues on which he and Dr. James Dobson disagree. In the interview, he recalled that tolerance used to be the idea that you “treat others with respect.” Now, he lamented, it has come to mean that “all ideas are equally valid.”
Now, Anonymous Browsing. Microsoft released its latest Web browser in late August. It includes a feature – dubbed by some as the “porn mode” – that allows users to visit Web sites anonymously. Internet Explorer 8’s “InPrivate” browsing option removes all traces of a user’s activities while online. Once users log out of the program, it will erase their Web history, cookies, temporary Internet files, user names and passwords and Internet searches. That could make it a particularly popular feature with those who want to hide their viewing of pornographic Web sites. However, Microsoft says it will not override any parental controls already in place.
British Media Group Bans Personal-Services Advertising. A media group in the United Kingdom has banned all personal-services advertisements from its publications. In many cities, personal ads and those for erotic services and massage parlors are significant sources of local prostitution. As a result, the Manchester Evening News, Reading Evening Post, Surrey Advertiser and all associated media no longer will publish health club, escort or personal-services advertising. MEN Media, a group of more than 20 daily and weekly newspapers, became concerned that if the advertisements were used for criminal activity, the media could be seen as profiting from a crime.
gAyBC. For the second straight year, ABC received the most nominations for gay-affirming TV programming. The network landed nine nominations from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), while CBS garnered three nods, NBC two and Fox two, The Associated Press reported. ABC’s nominated shows include Brothers & Sisters, Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives. Oprah Winfrey and Tyra Banks dominated the Outstanding Talk Show Episode category. For Newspaper Overall Coverage, nominees were: The Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Seattle Times and the San Francisco Chronicle. “GLAAD’s annual recognition of programs promoting homosexuality and transgenderism reflect the magnitude of the sea change in American attitudes about these issues,” said Caleb H. Price, research analyst for Focus on the Family. “It’s astonishing to think that GLAAD is able to put up nearly 200 nominees in 40 categories — even though homosexuals and transgenders comprise between 2 and 3 percent of the population.
Study Links Sex on TV to Teen Pregnancy. A new study has confirmed what many parents and family advocates have been saying for years: Highly sexual content on television is a bad influence on teenagers. A RAND Corp. study published in the journal Pediatrics showed that teens exposed to high levels of sexual content on TV were twice as likely to be involved in a pregnancy in the following three years as teens with limited exposure. The study, based on interviews with more than 2,000 teens, called it “a compelling link.”
Katie Couric Honored by NOW. For those who need yet more evidence of the bias of the major network anchors, look no further. The National Organization for Women (NOW) honored Katie Couric for her work as a “groundbreaking anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News.” Carrie Gordon Earll, senior director of Issue Analysis for Focus on the Family Action, said Couric’s acceptance of the award speaks to her credibility as a journalist, as well as the credibility of the media. “NOW’s agenda is very clear — it is pro-homosexual, pro-abortion and anti-male,” she said. “Couric is giving her personal and professional approval of this radical agenda by accepting this award.”
Media’s Coverage Of Religion And The Election. Religion played a much more significant role in the media coverage of President-elect Barack Obama than it did in the press treatment of Republican nominee John McCain during the 2008 presidential campaign, but much of the coverage related to the persistent rumors that Obama is a Muslim. Meanwhile, there was little attempt by the news media during the campaign to comprehensively examine the role of faith in the political values and policies of the candidates, save for those of Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. That’s according to a Pew poll released just after the election. And when religion-focused campaign stories were covered by the mainstream press, often the context was negative, controversial or focused on a perceived political problem. In all, religion was a significant but not overriding storyline in the media coverage of the 2008 campaign. But in a campaign in which an Obama victory would give the U.S. its first black president, religion received as much coverage in the media as race.
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