WJI 2019, Day 11 AM

This morning Mindy Belz, editor and reporter for WORLD, told stories of her travels abroad. As the rain drizzled down outside, she told the eager WJI students of adventures in Sudan and Iraq. Belz’s focus though, was not on the fascinating places, but on the people she met. Belz showed the class pictures of destroyed churches and homes in both Sudan and Iraq. While most people focus on the scale of destruction, good reporters need to remember that people once worshipped in the churches.

On Belz’s first trip to Sudan in the 1990s, she visited a large group of Christians who had been forced to flee from all the fighting in the region. In the group, she saw one young girl who was emaciated from lack of nutrition. This story of the young girl, who ended up dying from malnourishment, put the readers of WORLD into the daily struggles of those living in this war torn region. Instead of focusing on the “suite” level politics of powerful commanders, Belz’s article focused on the “street level” life of regular people living out the conflict.

Later on in the morning, the students heard from Marvin and Susan Olasky. Susan coached the students through the art of writing interesting and compelling features. She pointed out the importance of including details. Included details need to be intentional and help to help tell the story that is being written. She also explained the importance of showing, and not telling the story.

Marvin discussed the importance of having a Biblical worldview. He expressed the great respect that Christian reporters need to have for the Bible. This includes knowing when the Bible is clear on an issue, and when it is not.