Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

Rashional Thoughts: Concept of beat reporting, keen awareness good pattern for all parts of life

  • October 13, 2021
  • Jennifer Davis Rash
  • Editorials by Jennifer Rash, Latest News, Missouri, Opinion, Rashional Thoughts
Jennifer Davis Rash (left) and Talya Holgate-Allen, a student at Southwest Bapitst University, continued their conversation past the retreat in Jefferson City, Missouri, with email exchanges and a Zoom interview.
(Photo by Jennifer Davis Rash)

Rashional Thoughts: Concept of beat reporting, keen awareness good pattern for all parts of life

Bouncing between silly stories and serious analysis with college students always energizes me, and even more so when those students are studying journalism.

During The Pathway Journalism Retreat in Jefferson City, Missouri, in September, I had the opportunity to meet students from Hannibal-LaGrange University, Southwest Baptist University and Missouri Baptist University.

And they not only warmed my heart with their positive and entertaining attitudes, but also gave me hope for our future reporters, producers and content providers as well as the media industry overall.

Sharp minds, probing questions and teachable spirits — that’s what I saw in the 12 students participating in the various sessions also attended by area writers and photographers. Several university faculty and staff also were present, including Hannibal-LaGrange president Anthony Allen, one of the featured speakers.

The Pathway staff and correspondents participated and helped organize the event, which is hosted annually by longtime editor Don Hinkle.

Sharing about The Baptist Paper and how it can be a partner resource for Baptists in every state was my primary role in participating in the retreat, but Don also recruited me to share a few practical tips for writers and content producers.

In the Mastering Your Beat session, we talked about what having a beat means — a specific area of focus — and how to develop an understanding of it.

From there, it’s important to build relationships within the beat and to continually look for ways to advance your beat.

The beat reporting concept has always been a favorite of mine because of the depth of understanding that is developed and the speed with which stories can be turned around because of that understanding. It also provides a good pattern for living life.

Beat coverage also ensures someone is paying attention to specific areas and is not only prepared when a story breaks, but also can predict what should be covered along the way.

Mastering your beat requires intentionality, commitment and compassion. You have to truly care about the beat to want to master it, and spending lots of time around the area of focus works wonders in developing a rich understanding.

At the same time, becoming too invested in a beat can sometimes blur the lines between how an advocate might share information versus how media coverage should look.

Remaining a step removed and balancing your beat with other assignments helps keep proper perspective and a clear head for reporting.

And ultimately, the ability to maintain keen awareness of your area along with how it relates to other areas around it is the key that connects all parts together.

We must actively participate to truly understand and clearly share the stories — similar to our faith journey and mastering the beat of disciple making.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Study: More people associating pastors with church scandal
    Study: More people associating pastors with church scandal
    February 2, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • IMB trustees celebrate new missionaries, reports of increased engagement
    IMB trustees celebrate new missionaries, reports of increased engagement
    February 2, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Embracing the call: IMB celebrates 46 new missionaries appointed to the field
    Embracing the call: IMB celebrates 46 new missionaries appointed to the field
    February 2, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Study: More people associating pastors with church scandal

As fewer Americans interact with pastors on a regular basis, fewer say they trust clergy overall, a recent study shows. And amid recent headlines of

IMB trustees celebrate new missionaries, reports of increased engagement

International Mission Board trustees approved the appointment of 46 new full-time, fully funded missionaries, while also honoring the service of 87 missionaries and staff during

Embracing the call: IMB celebrates 46 new missionaries appointed to the field

It was an emotional night for Coats Baptist Church from Coats, North Carolina. Fifty church members barely held back whoops of joy as “their” missionaries

Disaster Relief volunteers help clear tornado damage in southeast Texas

Along a several-block stretch of Hillshire Drive in Deer Park, Texas, tree limbs were piled along the street as neighbors sought to clean up from

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel