In the News

Originally published on Feb. 4, 2020 on The Alabama Baptist The Arkansas Baptist News (ABN) recently dissolved its autonomous board of directors and became a convention-run publication, according to an Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) press release Feb. 4. The ABN is the most recent of the traditional state Baptist newspapers, reportedly because of financial and other pressures, to make this move, leaving only four of its kind remaining. The Alabama Baptist (TAB) is one of those four and remains the largest circulated among them. The Arkansas ministry, most often referred to as the ABN, began as a part of …

This article was written by Seth Brown on October 8, 2019 for The Biblical Recorder. Southern Baptist journalism plays a key role in the life of our local, state and national partnerships. Yet, like most traditional press outlets in our society today, our news agencies appear to be caught in a struggle for relevance. Many people in our pulpits and pews are not aware of the value – sometimes even the existence – of Southern Baptist news outlets at the state or national levels. Others may be familiar, but do not believe Southern Baptist journalism has any effect on their …

Margaret Colson wrote this story on July 26, 2019 for Baptist Press about Southern Baptist Media Day. NASHVILLE (BP)– Longtime trusted sources for information and inspiration, Southern Baptist media are now being celebrated and recognized with a day to call their own: Southern Baptist Media Day. Longtime trusted sources for information and inspiration, Southern Baptist media are now being celebrated and recognized with a day, July 28, to call their own: Southern Baptist Media Day.Photo by Shawn Hendricks Recently added to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) calendar, Southern Baptist Media Day, on July 28, is set aside to celebrate how …

Appeared in the THE ALABAMA BAPTIST on JUNE 11–12, 2019 Factual reporting, resources for real-life issues, good news about Baptists are a few reasons By Margaret Colson, Executive director, Association of State Baptist Publications In an era of subjective news and social media frenzy, where do Southern Baptists turn for a trustworthy source of information? For almost 200 years, amid significant societal and technological change, the answer has been the state Baptist paper. State Baptist papers have been the go-to source for trustworthy information and inspiration since Georgia’s The Christian Index was established as the first Baptist state paper in …

Margaret Colson wrote this story on May 1, 2019 for SBC Life More than thirty members of the Association of State Baptist Publications (ASBP) gathered for their annual meeting February 11–14 in Charleston, South Carolina, where they learned from author and university professor Penelope Muse Abernathy, heard reports from denominational leaders, and sharpened one another spiritually and professionally. With the theme “Press On,” based on Philippians 3:14, participants were encouraged to persevere in their callings as Christian journalists, in spite of today’s daunting challenges. Read the Entire Story

David Roach wrote this story on March 9, 2019 for Baptist Press. NASHVILLE (BP) — In an era of shrinking newspaper readership, Baptist state papers retain a viable path forward as “niche publications” with strong online and print presence, state paper editor Lonnie Wilkey told the Tennessee Baptist Historical Society (TBHS). News Baptist state papers “report today is tomorrow’s history,” Baptist and Reflector editor Lonnie Wilkey told the Tennessee Baptist Historical Society. Photo by David Roach “The newspaper industry is declining, but Baptist papers still have a future,” said Wilkey, editor of Tennessee’s Baptist and Reflector newsjournal. That’s “mainly because …

Margaret Colson wrote this story on March 8, 2019 for Baptist Press CHARLESTON, S.C. (BP) — Members of the Association of State Baptist Publications learned from university professor and author Penelope Muse Abernathy during their annual meeting in Charleston, S.C. University professor Penelope Abernathy discusses community newspapers at the Association of State Baptist Publications annual meeting in Charleston, S.C. Arkansas Baptist News photo The ASBP meeting “gives those who lead state Baptist newspapers and other publications the opportunity to discuss opportunities and challenges faced in today’s ever-changing publishing environment,” said Tim Yarbrough, editor/executive director of the Arkansas Baptist News and …