While most major newspapers are cutting back on specialty sections due to rising newsprint costs, the Dallas Morning News has expanded to an innovative six-page weekly religion section.
Most newspapers devote no more than one page per week to religion, and fewer than 50 papers have a full-time religion writer.
In Dallas, three staff writers, a section editor, a researcher, designer, part-time copy editor, and a stable of freelancers compile the section, in July rated the country’s best by the Religion Newswriters Association.
The paper compiles what would be a dream section for evangelicals: Coverage of various denominations, profiles of local congregations, personnel changes among local clergy, national and international religion news, religious book and music reviews, and a weekly planner listing religious meetings, special events, speakers, and local religious TV programs.
Last year, the paper conducted a readership poll on religious attitudes and then convened 60 members of the religious community to critique the paper’s religion coverage. Former Southern Baptist Convention president Jimmy Allen, who headed the panel, says that the nation’s newsrooms seem to be more interested in better religion coverage.
And there is always room for improvement. Local Jewish and Southern Baptist leaders say they are pleased with the section but await meatier coverage. Only one of the three staff writers had any religion writing background.
“I give these people an A-minus in effort,” says George Mason, a Southern Baptist who served on the panel. Compared to other papers, “They are light years down the road.”
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