Uchtdorf’s Germanness Not Yet Newsworthy in US
February 5th, 2008 by John Mansfield
Once again, the president of the LDS Church was the big story on page A3 of the Washington Post.
It’s a nice piece occupying about a third of the page and has some
better-than-usual discussion of the challenges of conversion and
retention. Dieter F. Uchtdorf is identified in the caption of a 5×8
photo of the First Presidency, but in the body of the article, neither
he nor Henry Eyring is mentioned.
So in the U.S., at least, the internationality that many hope
President Uchtdorf’s call signals has yet to be noticed. Nate Oman at
Times and Seasons, though, points out an article
at a German-interest web site that caught on right away. What impact
will Uchtdorf’s call have on the profile of the Church in his homeland?
What I want to know is how do the journalists for the Washington Post
and AP come up with their Mormon “experts” to grab qoutes from? The AP
ran an article on President Monson where one of the key people they
interviewed was Grant Palmer! Whatever, dude.
believer”. (Not that Palmer doesn’t believe - he does - but he doesn’t
fit the stereotype)
quoted in this article: Jan Shipps, Richard Ostling, and David Stewart.
Shipps’ standing in the field speaks for itself. Ostling is himself a
journalist, so may be someone a colleague finds very useful to orient
her on the topic. I haven’t read his Mormon America,
and probably wouldn’t agree with what I assume is a secular perspective
of my religion, but he has made himself a legitimate expert about
Mormons. David Stewart’s web site, http://www.cumorah.com, should be required
study for all interested in conversion and retention issues, and is
firmly pro-Kingdom of God.
sought out legitimate experts. She didn’t lazily settle for the nearest
loudmouth on the internet like some writers do.
John,
I just feel like they go out and get qoutes from these scholars to put a more juicy spin on the prophetic succession.
Most within the Church would agree that how the Church tackles these
current “issues” mentioned in the article is not going to change much
with a new Prophet.
I am sure President Monson will make changes within the Church just as
President Hinckley did. But these will be small changes over time (and
as Mormons believe through revelation) - not nearly as juicy and
noteworthy as journalists are willing to write about.
It does appear to be newsworthy in Germany though:
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,1694123,00.html
(Saw it on the TimesAndSeasons sidebar).
that. Which makes me again wonder, what is the point of not putting the
entire post on the front page?
through the main page. In this case, with a fairly small item, it is
questionable if splitting the post was worthwhile.
Drew, I think your criticism is valid in many cases, but not this one.
This one is just the kind of reporting we would hope for to increase
awareness of the Church: prominently placed, respectful without being
fawning, and well-informed.