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Welcome to the website for the Knight Chair in Media and Religion. Our goal is to serve as a resource for journalists, including journalism educators and students seeking new models for covering politics, science, sex and gender among other key issues for the 21st century. Read more about our site here.
To ease your navigation, here is a quick reference:
the GET: Links to web-based resources
the SCOOP: Read Diane Winston's blog
the STORY: Exemplary articles
the HEADLINES: USC Knight Chair events
the CLASSROOM: Teaching resources |
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| Friday July 30th, 2010 |
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By J. Terry Todd
Religion isn't the first subject that springs to mind when you think about the San Diego Comic-Con International, the globe's largest annual pop culture klatsch that just wrapped up its 40th season. What started in 1970 as a modest confab for self-described "nerds," mostly sci-fi and comix fans, has evolved into a sprawling convention covering every aspect of mass media and every genre from anime to 'zines. Over 150,000 people flooded San Diego's Convention Center for seminars, shopping, and parties, sharing their mutual devotions, dressing up like their heroes and alt personas – vampires, werewolves, zombies, and even old school characters like Yoda and Wonder Woman. And they came to hang out with the stars. This year's celebrity roster included, among many others, Will Farrell, Jeff Bridges, Tina Fay, and Angelina Jolie, there to promote her new movie Salt on the flick's opening weekend. ... read more |
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| Friday July 16th, 2010 |
A comprehensive new poll examining religious based attitudes on same sex marriage says only one-in-five Californians agree that Proposition 8 is a "Good Thing" will be released and discussed by a d ... read more | | | |
| Thursday April 1st, 2010 |
In a story based on her reporting from Jerusalem during the JOUR585 trip to Israel-Palesti ... read more | | | |
| Wednesday February 3rd, 2010 |
| In a time of danger and promise--a man, a family and a generation come of age. New Muslim Cool is Islam as you have never seen it. It is also hip-hop as you ... read more | | | |
| Wednesday February 3rd, 2010 |
| Filmmaker and human rights advocate Ronit Avni discusses her work and screens portions of her documentary Budrus, the story of a Palestinian-led ... read more | | |
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| Posted By: J. Terry Todd |
| Friday July 30th, 2010 |
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Comic-Con descended on the San Diego Convention Center last week and with it a plethora of caped crusaders, random sci-fi villains and, of course, picketers from Westboro Baptist Church. Why would the staunchly militant church, whose website is godhatesfags.com, expend the time, effort and energy to picket a comic book convention? After all, Comic-Con isn't really a religious hotbed of activity ... right? If you ask, and sometimes even if you don't, church members will tell you: "If these people would spend even some of the energy that they spend on these comic books, reading the Bible, well no high hopes here….The destruction of this nation is imminent -- so start calling on Batman and Superman now, see if they can pull you from the mess that you have created with all your silly idolatry." – Statement from Westboro Baptist Church But the real reason for Westboro's appearance can be found in Google's search engine. Type in "Religion, Comic-Con," and " Sexy Jesus' Takes Over Comic-Con" is the #1 story. After that, the search page is full up with the "top" religious story of the convention: The Galactic Battle Between Westboro Baptist and the Convention Goers. We don't need to force a religion angle on the news; it's already there. Check out the Top 10 Stories of the Past Decade and you can see for yourself that nine of the 10 deal with religion. But sometimes the religion angle is hidden -- no one's holding a picket sign or making commercials about gay marriage? But when the usual suspects are rounded up for religion coverage, what's missing? Has "religion reporting" lost its way? After all, what religious connection could possibly be found at a comic book convention?* * * * * *
 J. Terry Todd is Associate Professor of American Religious Studies at Drew University and director of Drew's Center on Religion, Culture & Conflict. The author of many articles on religion in 20th-century America, Terry is especially interested in religious conflicts over family life and sexuality, and how Christian ideas and practices shape U.S. politics and mass media.
The Israel-Palestine Project
 USC Annenberg journalism students who traveled to Jerusalem, the West Bank and Tel Aviv in March have created the Israel-Palestine Project to showcase their work. One of the key elements of the project is Checkpoint, a series of profiles spotlighting people whose lives have been sundered by the ongoing conflict. Please check out our work and let us know what you think.
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