Episode 49
#49. Don't Forget Religion: The Middle East and Journalism
Jayson Casper takes us into the world of journalism as a Middle Eastern correspondent for Christianity Today. Currently based in Lebanon, he shares insights about the region’s traditional Christian churches and how Christians in the Middle East are personally affected by what are foreign politics in America.
What You’ll Learn:
- Some ways Muslims and Christians relate to one another in the Middle East
- About the Orthodox and Coptic Christian communities
- An inexpensive way to ‘travel’ to the Middle East
About the Guest:
Jayson Casper reports at the intersection of religion, politics, and culture as an international corresponded for Christianity Today, in the Middle East.
He currently lives with his family in Beirut, Lebanon. Prior to that, he reported from Cairo, Egypt, and has also lived in Jordan, Tunisia, and Mauritania. Additionally, Jason works with IDEAS, an organization that connects skilled Christian professionals to development and educational opportunities throughout the world. He is competent in Arabic and has a degree in Islamic Studies. Jayson is thankful for his role to faithfully represent misunderstood peoples.
Links Related to Episode:
Jayson Casper — Sympathetic Reporting on the Middle East
Connect with Jayson Casper on Twitter
Timestamped Show Notes:
01:41 - Topic: The Importance of Representing all Views in Journalism
01:50 - Family, from America to Lebanon
03:39 - A Day in the Life of a Journalist
06:59 - Reporting Complexities Fairly
08:56 - Representing 2% of Population
10:04 - What is Sympathetic Reporting?
10:28 - Hope, Reflection and Prayer
13:28 - Handling a Accusation of Bias
16:22 - Religion Impacting News in the Middle East
18:05 - Religion a Factor in Community Relations
18:23 - Religion a Factors in Politics
20:37 - Christians in the Middle East and Diaspora
21:37 - Relations Between Christian and Muslim Communities in the Middle East
23:17 - Religious Identity and Neighborliness
24:02 - Suprised by Christians in the Middle East
25:26 - Christians in Egypt
27:10 - Learning about the Middle Eastern Culture
27:46 - Cheaper Way to 'Travel' to the Middle East
28:04 - Middle Eastern Hospitality
28:22 - Connecting Middle Eastern Christians to Americans
29:17 - Contacting Jayson Casper
30:45 - Joke: A Sheikh and Albert Einstein
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