By Rusty Weller
                        CIM Director
   Welcome to Christians in Media, a national association dedicated to encouraging, strengthening and promoting believers who cover the news at newspapers, radio and television stations.
   It's a lamentable fact: except for isolated outposts, America's media definitely leans to the left politically with a well-documented bias against all things Christian. That makes the few Bible-believing editors, reporters, photographers and broadcasters at secular newspapers and stations extremely precious as they strive to stand in the gap for our sake.
   These courageous men and women need all of the help they can get to go against the God-mocking flow. I know from experience. And while it was thrilling to wield the awesome power God imparted to the daunting task, being a decision-making editor often was lonely and, well, confusing. So much so that at times I wished for an association of Christian editors to draw insight and support.
   That was several years ago, and the news reporting environment sure hasn't gotten any more conducive to Christians. Now, more than ever, Godly editors and reporters need a source of encouragement and comfort.
   It may seem impossible for a believer to ever head a major newspaper and right its slant. But "big city" papers draw talent from community newspapers like the one that serves your hometown. Since nothing succeeds like success, Christian editors who do well in little markets will get their chance at prime-time jobs. God sees to it. Change can come to media like it does to God's kingdom -- one heart at a time.
   Dreaming of financial reward, a publisher elevates and then trusts a successful editor, who in turn hires right-minded people. Happens all the time in the business world, right? Yet it's right out of the Bible: God enables Daniel to answer Nebuchadnezzar's dream and as a result elevates Shadrack, Meshak and Adednego to influental positions.
   It's really as simple as WWJD. Long before the wristband fad, God impressed me to emulate the small-town editor of Shelton's "In His Steps." While the book doesn't tell how the newspaperman ultimately faired, asking "What would Jesus do?" was wildly successful for me.
   With God's guidance I was able to transform five failing weekly newspapers into unqualified successes.
   And so can any God-called believer who emulates the editor of "In His Steps" and decision-  by-decision asks "What would Jesus do?"
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