Building a bigger congregation: Why the Boston Globe is launching a site devoted to Catholic news [Crux]

[gilliam]

Looking at the newly launched Catholic news site Crux, you’ll find plenty of stories on the travels and exploits of Pope Francis. This makes sense — he’s the head of the church and easily one of the most charismatic leaders operating on the world’s stage.

What you won’t readily find is an indication of who or what is behind the new site dedicated to “Covering all things Catholic.” Only if you scroll to the bottom of the homepage, tucked in the footer, will you see the text: “A Boston Globe Media website.”

It’s been almost a year since Red Sox owner John Henry completed his purchase of the Globe, and he’s pushing forward on a plan he hopes will help broaden the company’s readership beyond people who want a printed newspaper on their doorstep. Crux, as the site’s branding makes clear, is aiming for a readership far outside the 617 area code to the more than 1 billion Catholics worldwide.

Crux joins a small, and growing, network of sites connected to the paper, including Boston.com, BostonGlobe.com, BDCWire, and the most recently launched Beta Boston. For newspapers like the Globe, diversification typically means finding a way to spin off parts of the existing business to niche audiences inside a geographic boundary. Crux shares a strategy more common with online publishers who want to tap digital audiences through interest areas.

“We saw an opportunity to fill a need,” said Globe editor Brian McGrory. “There’s a real hunger. We’re at a unique moment.”

niemanlab.org/2014/09/building-a-bigger-congregation-why-the-boston-globe-is-launching-a-site-devoted-to-catholic-news/

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Interesting. I’ll be interested in exploring the Crux web site. At least this explains why a local paper like the Boston Globe hired John Allen. I didn’t understand why they wanted a reporter who focused strictly on Catholicism.

 

[YoungTradCath]

Why do they care about Catholic news and commentary? Honest question.

 

[Valiente88]

Why do they care about Catholic news and commentary? Honest question.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

Why do they care about Catholic news and commentary? Honest question.

Couple of thoughts:

– the (at least) “cultural Catholicism” of the New England area;
– the fact that print media in its current form is dying, and the increasing (and technology-driven) fragmentation of the media market points to a strategy of leveraging both technology and the fragmentation to exploit under served market niches.

I have respected John Allen’s reporting in the past, but of course he is only one voice, and in the hands of the Globe, it’s likely that Crux won’t be mistaken for the “Register.”

 

[gam197]

—

Henry asked Barnicle if he was familiar with John Allen, a senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter. Though not a household name, Allen is the Peter Gammons of the Catholic world—an impeccably sourced must-read on the Vatican

Margery Eagan , joining Crux from The Boston Herald, will be the site’s spirituality columnist.

That says it all.

This is the same John Henry, owner of the Red Sox who has a gay pride day each year at his stadium during one of the Red Spx games.

Ultra liberal Margery Eagan will be the sites spiritual advisor. Wow! Who has not listened to this woman for years on the radio and/or read her columns and not known her politics?

Same old, same old.

by Margery Eagan

The great, sleeping giant that is pro-choice America was startled awake this week — and then, in about a nanosecond, proceeded to crush pro-life forces like a bug.

Just steamrolled ’em, actually. It was extremely gratifying, I must say.

This all happened after Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the pink-ribbon breast-cancer charity, announced it was cutting off money for breast-cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood. What? How can a breast-cancer charity oppose breast-cancer screenings?

bostonherald.com/news_opinion/columnists/2012/02/un_planned_controversy

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Ultra liberal Margery Eagan will be the sites spiritual advisor. Wow! Who has not listened to this woman for years on the radio and/or read her columns and not known her politics?

I don’t know the first thing about Margery Eagan – never even heard of her before your comment – but the snippet you quoted says she will be their spirituality columnist. It doesn’t say anything about being their spiritual advisor.

I get the impression you’re not interested in Crux, which is fine. I’m happy to see another site for Catholic news and information. So much of what’s out there is just plain poorly done. Diocesan sites tell you about a bake sale here or that the bishop went there for confirmations. Yawn. National sites give a lot of stories of Sister So-and-so who helps the poor. That’s nice but not earth shaking. I hope this new site will talk about what’s happening both in the US and other countries, give solid information about what the Pope is saying (and not merely the more sensational bits that hit the mainstream press), and overall give more context and information about the Church.

It may fail. But I hope it succeeds.

 

[phil19034]

[SIGN][/SIGN]This doesn’t sound good to me. Sounds like this might become a major magazine for Dissent Catholics.

I hope I’m wrong.

 

[gam197]

I don’t know the first thing about Margery Eagan – never even heard of her before your comment – but the snippet you quoted says she will be their spirituality columnist. It doesn’t say anything about being their spiritual advisor.

I get the impression you’re not interested in Crux, which is fine. I’m happy to see another site for Catholic news and information. So much of what’s out there is just plain poorly done. Diocesan sites tell you about a bake sale here or that the bishop went there for confirmations. Yawn. National sites give a lot of stories of Sister So-and-so who helps the poor. That’s nice but not earth shaking. I hope this new site will talk about what’s happening both in the US and other countries, give solid information about what the Pope is saying (and not merely the more sensational bits that hit the mainstream press), and overall give more context and information about the Church.

It may fail. But I hope it succeeds.

Everyone is the Northeast knows the politics of Magery Eagan so why pick her?

This is Boston, the area of untra liberals and first “gay marriage” for a reason. To expect good authentic catholic news when the people chosen are of the same mold doesn’t make sense to me.

Allen has covered Catholicism for almost 20 years and he sees the future of the church in much broader stories, as places like Africa, Asia, and South America see a growing Catholic population. Even within the U.S., the face of the Catholic faithful is becoming increasingly Hispanic, he said.

What they put out as Catholic news is very important. They like Pope Francis because they believe he is one of theirs, a Pope to change doctrine and that is why they quote in the article this news story.

On Gay Priests, Pope Francis Asks, ‘Who Am I to Judge?’

nytimes.com/2013/07/30/world/europe/pope-francis-gay-priests.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

The Globe may have won a Pulixter prize for its year coverage of the “priest sex scandal” but to me they did a great deal of damage to the faith.

All I am saying to those who visit this site is “Be aware of who you are reading and what their politics are!”

 

[rfournier103]

Interesting. I’ll be interested in exploring the Crux web site. At least this explains why a local paper like the Boston Globe hired John Allen. I didn’t understand why they wanted a reporter who focused strictly on Catholicism.

Why do they care about Catholic news and commentary? Honest question.

[SIGN][/SIGN]This doesn’t sound good to me. Sounds like this might become a major magazine for Dissent Catholics.

I hope I’m wrong.

Curt Schilling once said that there are three powerful forces that power all things Boston/Massachusetts/New England…

1. Catholicism.
2. Politics.
3. and Sports.

…and not always in that order.

John Henry (principal owner of the Boston Red Sox) is trying to make a buck off the fact that 44% of Massachusetts identifies itself as Catholic. The second highest percentage behind Rhode Island’s 63%. He’s counting on people saying; “OH!!! A Catholic news outlet? JUST FOR US?!?!?!? Count me IN!!!” He’s counting on Pope Francis’s “star power” to bring in readers/viewers (and money).

How do I know all this?

I know this because I am a Red Sox fan. I have seen how they operate since 2002. John Henry has NEVER seen a promotion or gimmick he didn’t like. He has had a special night to celebrate the EIGHTH anniversary of the Red Sox 2004 World Series victory. They have sold BRICKS from Fenway Park (boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20110428&content_id=18354524&vkey=pr_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos) and have done everything to capitalize on the region’s love of the Sox.

This will be no different.

Massachusetts is a very liberal state, and many of the Catholics here are quite liberal themselves. The Commonwealth’s laws, policies, and elected officials prove that. There’s no way the liberal Massachusetts state government could function without the “Catholic vote.” Just look at who gets voted in, and you can figure out who the Catholics are voting for…

The Boston Globe is a very liberal newspaper. I had to stop reading it several years ago because I just couldn’t stomach it. Does anyone here think that John Henry and his liberal newspaper will publish AUTHENTIC Catholic fare; or will Henry and the Globe cater to their liberal audience? I say the latter.

I wish it weren’t so, but all Mr. Henry cares about is making money. This “crux” of his is a gimmick/money making scheme. If Margery Egan is their “spiritual advisor;” then this venture is less than worthless in terms of honest Catholic news. What we will get is an ultra-liberal spin on Catholic news served in such a way as to make it palatable to liberal Massachusetts Catholics.

There is NO WAY John Henry will risk alienating the liberal majority with unpopular Catholic teaching. If you want GOOD Catholic news in the Archdiocese of Boston, read “The Pilot.” Free at any Catholic Church in the Archdiocese every week.

John Henry isn’t doing the Church any favors. Only himself.

You can take THAT to the bank.

.

 

[rfournier103]

I have a great post that I will PM to anyone interested in reading it. It is written from the perspective of a Boston Catholic and a Boston Red Sox fan, but something tells me I shouldn’t post it here.

If you are a Red Sox fan, or have a sense of humor (but especially if you’re a Red Sox fan in BOSTON), you’ll get a laugh.

 

[YoungTradCath]

Pardon me for not understanding Yankee culture–yes Yankee–but if so many up there have drifted away from the Church, does anyone really think they can make money off Catholic journalism? Maybe, idk. This doesn’t seem regional, rather it seems to desire a national audience.

This thing is “independent” a la NCReporter, has no ecclesiastical approbation (although they don’t specifically need it), so I think this is all just going to blow up.

There is no such thing as unbiased reporting on Catholicism from secular sources.

John Allen is a really good guy imo but his articles never redeemed the Reporter, and if Crux goes off the deep end, which I think it has a very good chance of doing, then neither will his articles redeem this new outlet.

I won’t be surprised if this turns into nothing more than an all-Catholic version of the HuffPo “Religion” page that only certain Catholics considered genteel in some circles along with a few of the secular intelligentsia will read in elegant salons while contemplating the impending Hillary 2016 run…

But I will give them a chance! promise

PS: I think the thing that will make or break their credibility to me is how they treat PE Benedict in their editorials.

gosh I think I need an editor for my posts…

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I heard the news about a month ago and when they said Margery Eagan was going to be a major contributor, I knew there is a problem.

I’ve listened to Margery Eagan on her radio talk show for the past decade and she’s about as clueless of a Catholic as Barack Obama would be.

That being said, I have to wait and see if the Globe can provide an unbiased reporting on Catholic news.

My guess is they will not.

Jim

 

[manualman]

The NC Reporter always did its level best to undermine catholic teaching, but John Allen never came off that way to me. My impression of his articles was that he considered his job to investigate and report both sides of any controversy as accurately and as fairly as he could.

Personally, I don’t believe it is possible for a human to be truly unbiased. I prefer for a person to admit his biases up front and then do his best to present both sides. Allen at least appears to do the latter.

As I understand it, NC Reporter has been nearly insolvent for years and I’m not sure how they’ll survive without their best writer. That said, I’m also not sure how Crux is going to have any greater appeal to audiences than NC Reporter did since they appear to be going after the same approach to writing.

If nothing else, it will be a nice, easy way to read regular Allen columns.

 

[Holly3278]

This new news site sounds interesting. I will be interested in exploring the site soon. I love reading Catholic news but only if it comes from an orthodox Catholic perspective. If it is unorthodox then I have little to no interest in it.

 

[Path_Finder]

It doesn’t surprise me that Margery Eagan works for Public Radio. They seem very biased and don’t inform their listeners on issues very well.

 

[gam197]

It doesn’t surprise me that Margery Eagan works for Public Radio. They seem very biased and don’t inform their listeners on issues very well.

She does just work for public radio, she has been on public radio for many years.

She has written a column for the Herald since 1981. She and her views are very well known.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Actually, Margery Eagan has only been on Public Radio for the past year.

She had a talk show with Jim Brody on a former all-talk radio station 96.9 FM , which featured predominately conservative talk show hosts. Eagan and Brody were the only liberal talk show on that station. The station was bought out and switch from talk radio to music.

Margery Eagan and Jim Brody were then offered to host the same talk program on Public Radio back in 2013, where they’ve been since.

Both are left leaning people, but I listen anyway for some of their guest are very good.

Margery Eagan also wrote for the Boston Herald, which is a conservative paper and in my opinion is for people who can only look at pictures instead of reading the articles.

NPR is the most informative unbiased station on the radio these days.

They go into details on their news stories deeper than any other news source. They also have opinions from both political ideologies when it comes to political matters.

Jim

 

[gam197]

Actually, Margery Eagan has only been on Public Radio for the past year.

She had a talk show with Jim Brody on a former all-talk radio station 96.9 FM , which featured predominately conservative talk show hosts. Eagan and Brody were the only liberal talk show on that station. The station was bought out and switch from talk radio to music.

Margery Eagan and Jim Brody were then offered to host the same talk program on Public Radio back in 2013, where they’ve been since.

Both are left leaning people, but I listen anyway for some of their guest are very good.

NPR is the most informative unbiased station on the radio these days.

They go into details on their news stories deeper than any other news source. They also have opinions from both political ideologies when it comes to political matters.

Jim

I totally disagree with your take on NPR.

Margery Eagan has been on the radio for years with Jim Braude - that is what I was referring to. She goes way back. I can remember in interview with Peter Blute that I can’t repeat here.

I was trying to figure out how long if it was possibly 20 or 15 years. - found it.

For 13 years, Braude and Eagan co-hosted the Jim & Margery Show on WTKK 96.9FM

wgbh.org/press/press_release.cfm?pid=8c7fe81d-2219-56f5-6602-ae04e4bb6128

 

[rfournier103]

Margery Eagan also wrote for the Boston Herald, which is a conservative paper and in my opinion is for people who can only look at pictures instead of reading the articles.

Hahaha!!! SO TRUE!!!

Boston is a newspaper wasteland.

We have a broadsheet that’s a total left-wing rag and talks down to it’s audience; and a tabloid that uses small words and lots of pictures to appeal to a more “modest” readership.

I can read at a higher level than a 4th-grader, and I don’t care for the Globe’s politics. Hard to get quality reporting around here…

Here’s an article from Sept. 1 (Monday) from the Boston Globe:
bostonglobe.com/opinion/2014/08/31/abolish-vatican-statehood/HCgsMqBjqaWWAvOkyD5tgM/story.html

This same entity wants to deliver CATHOLIC news??? Shenanigans.