Tag Archives: reporting

Every street; rainy day

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Jim Killam

Author Mark Sayers is one of today’s best cultural observers. In his new book, “Facing Leviathan,” he deconstructs our consumer / spectator culture and talks about the need for leaders to break free of it. The “society of spectacle” is … Continue reading →

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O.J., TV and wretched excess

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Jim Killam

The TV networks already are rolling out their programming for the 20-year anniversary of that slow-speed freeway chase involving O.J. Simpson, Al Cowlings and the white Ford Bronco. June 17, 1994, revealed some of the absolute worst about celebrity-obsessed American … Continue reading →

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In disaster aftermath, God’s stories don’t stop

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Jim Killam

I’m writing this on an airplane after spending the past two days in Covington, Louisiana, helping to train ReachGlobal’s Crisis Response staff to be reporters. Of all mission work, crisis response offers some of the best opportunity for bragging on … Continue reading →

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The stream and the banks

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Jim Killam

Historian and philosopher Will Durant liked to see the big picture. The history of the whole world, for instance. Between the 1930s and the 1970s, he and his wife, Ariel, wrote an 11-volume opus called “The Story of Civilization.” They … Continue reading →

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Story criteria: Urgency of need

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Jim Killam

Before 24-hour cable news networks that label anything from a terrorist bombing to a celebrity divorce as “Breaking News,” news editors relied on The Associated Press. A big story would crossed the wire with the label, “URGENT.” Meaning: Pay attention … Continue reading →

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Story criteria: Is it unique?

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Jim Killam

Next on our list of criteria when choosing stories to pursue for Crossfield News: The story must be unique and distinctive. That means it’s either gone unreported or underreported elsewhere. We have little interest in attending press conferences, or in … Continue reading →

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These books go on the top shelf

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Jim Killam

During lunch conversation Tuesday at the Evangelical Press Association convention, I was asked, “Other than your own book, what are your favorite books on writing?” Here’s what came to mind, in no particular order. They aren’t all about writing. Some … Continue reading →

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Angels and demons

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Jim Killam

The movie “Heaven is for Real” cost $12 million to make and as of a week ago had raked in more than $52 million at the box office. Apparently a lot of people are interested in grappling with its central … Continue reading →

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‘Who is this man?’

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Jim Killam

At the heart of Luke’s gospel – after Jesus feeds the 5,000, heals many, raises Lazarus from the dead and calms a stormy sea  – lies the central question of all history: Who is this man? Luke builds the suspense … Continue reading →

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Lazy Journalism 101

Posted on April 16, 2014 by Jim Killam

Welcome to another edition of: “Look what those nutty Christians are up to now.” Lots of media reported on Tuesday’s blood moon – a lunar eclipse where the sunset glow from the Earth is reflected onto the moon, making it … Continue reading →

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