Is Baptist Press a religious version of CNN? One lawyer-turned-pastor thinks it is by Peter Lumpkins

New Mexico pastor Howell Scott has a post worth your time. "Baptist Press: the CNN of the Baptist World!" is an enlightening commentary on a piece composed by Erin Roach, assistant editor of Baptist Press  >>>

Scott proposes what many SBC leaders know but will not say aloud: Baptist Press has become a "news service" which basically publishes few, if any, stories other than feel-good-about-your-leaders stories in the news. Well, there are exceptions; and Erin Roach's piece constitutes an exhilarating example of the lone exception. The truth is, Baptist Press will publish--and publish swiftly--public rebukes of other Southern Baptists if they are perceived as being critical toward any decisions or beliefs of those leaders Baptist Press wants every body to feel good about.

Scott writes:

Within 24 hours, Baptist Press had posted a “news” article responding to the Harris article.  Entitled ‘Encroachment of Calvinism’ concerns editor, the reporter, Erin Roach, quoted four direct sources who opposed Harris’ article.  These sources included Dr. R. Albert Mohler...and Dr. Danny Akin... Also quoted in opposition to Harris’ article was Mike Ebert... [and...]Marty King... .  

Mr. Ebert’s response, as published in the BP article, is curious indeed.  I find it quite perplexing and disturbing that Ebert, an employee of one of our entities, would call Mr. Harris — the well-respected editor of The Christian Index – “a friend who has a passion for evangelism and missions” while at the same time accusing him of evoking “the McCarthyism of the 1950′s.”  Mr. King does no better, accusing Mr. Harris of publishing “false accusations without offering any evidence of their truthfulness.”   In other words, Mr. Harris and the Christian Index publish lies.  With friends like this, who needs . . .?

Scott goes on to conclude: "If the resources and power of the SBC’s public relations arm — which is, after all, what Baptist “Press” really is — can be marshaled so quickly to write a scathing rebuttal to the Harris piece, one would rightly assume that BP’s article would at least have the pretense of objectivity."

But, alas, no reasonable objectivity is to be found.

Contrarily, the word on the street is, editor Gerald Harris has scheduled to publish a full rebuttal to his editorial opinion from both Lifeway and NAMB in The Christian Index, a practice Baptist Press might do well to consider.

Do yourself a favor and read Howell Scott's entire piece at his site.

With that, I am...

Peter

Comments

[Jason Eldridge]

I have to disagree. Wasn't Baptist Press simply giving what the Index did not give -- the other side of the story? The Index is the one guilty of these charges, not Baptist Press. Sure, the Index may be allowing responses, but not in the same edition as the Harris editorial. That is significant. Baptist Press did what was only fair -- allow those who had been criticized a chance to respond. If we have a problem with the responses, then we should criticize the responders, not Bapist Press. The BP article quoted from the Harris editorial.

[peter lumpkins]

Jason,

You're confusing Harris' editorial opinion piece with a news story. No editorial opinion is expected to "give the other side." By its very definition, it's about its own side!

In addition, did you not read the last paragraph:

Contrarily, the word on the street is, editor Gerald Harris has scheduled to publish a full rebuttal to his editorial opinion from both Lifeway and NAMB in The Christian Index, a practice Baptist Press might do well to consider

Nor did Roach so much as question either King or Ebert about their low-balling remarks. King said Harris' piece was filled with "false accusations" without a single word about what those "false accusations" might be. She never asked squat, or if she did, she failed to print the answers King gave. They got by with glibly dismissing his piece--even insulting his piece--without a single substantial question from Roach recorded and reported.

So, no Jason, the two are far from the same. BP couldn't have been anymore negligent if it tired.

With that, I am...
Peter

[Mary]

NAMB has a rebuttal? I wonder what they think they can rebutt?

[Mary]

So I just read the BP article again and there is no "news" in it. It's just a piece where they scream that Harris is a lying liar and there is no evidence presented. It's doesn't tell you specifically what Harris lied about and what the truth is.

The Al Mohler quote is telling. If anyone has paid attention to this blog, you've seen us show you exactly what Mohler thinks the Abstract of Prinicples from his first convacation address - he has used the Abstract to insure doctrinally purity to the DOG.

What a mess, you would think if someone were going to say to a reporter "Harris is a liar" the reporter would have enough sense to say "What did he lie about" But that's not the purpose of the article is it?

[peter lumpkins]

Mary,

I think the way BP operates, it is a "news wire" service. All opinion pieces are usually tagged "First Person" or something like that. When BP editors or staff writers offer pieces, they default into the 'news' sections.

With that, I am...
Peter

[selahV]

Maybe we need a restructuring of the Baptist Press and get a new leader??? Get your resume ready, folks...uh...Peter??? hee hee. selahV

[peter lumpkins]

SelahV,

What a triple Georgia hoot! I think there just might be a meltdown amongst the YRR if such surfaced. More hate sites than google could handle would pop up.

With that, I am...
Peter

[CASEY]

look back in "short history" of the SBC....Jim Hefley in his "In Crisis..." series suggested that one of the first things conservatives needed to do once they controlled leadership was "separate public relations and news".....we've been having this "mix" for years...but we're really starting to pay the price now for PR trumping news.......

[Hobart M. Tucker]

http://www.bpnews.net/printerfriendly.asp?ID=34170

Page announces Executive Committee staffing consolidation, reductions

By Staff
Nov 30, 2010

"...The office of news services and the office of convention relations, separated into two offices since 1991, have been combined back into one office and will become the office of convention communications and relations...."

[selahV]

Well, Peter, you know I'm just funnin'... we all know that Howell Scott is the man that should handle the press... he's one diplomatic fella. selahV