Prayer Requests (May 15)

* The world of journalism isn't just unstable at newspapers, apparently. TV stations are also cutting staff and shaking up the lives of some good people. It looks like Gannett is cutting back at several of their stations. Please pray for our friends in the TV business.

* Up to 30 people may be cut from the newsroom in Raleigh. Please pray for our friends in Raleigh.

Poynter may be doing something on our site soon. I hope that spreads the word.

Thanks for praying. Thanks for visiting. E-mail me with any comments, concerns or prayer requests.

mk

A little levity

Click on the cartoon or Click here to see it bigger.

We all need to smile a little bit more, even if it hits a little close to home.

No terrible news today, though the buyouts at the Washington Post are coming out - including Tony Kornheiser and David Broder.

Thanks for visiting, thanks for praying.

Pondering our purpose

No news today, which is blessed. But I do have a prayer request, related to this comment.

* "Another thing to pray for - that people who work for newspapers actually would start to believe in God and pray. I don't think you're getting a lot of support from the market segment you're targeting."

This was attached to yesterday's post.

I've wondered and worried about the receptiopn of the site inside the business. Some groups and publications posted it quick (Thanks, E&P), while others have been unresponsive (Romenesko).

I don't buy the cause and effect thinking that God is punishing the "godless" newspaper biz, which have made up some feedback. I know this because there are so many thoughtful, genuine Christians working in this business.

After all, this is about this people. We are not praying for conglomerates, for buildings or for stock prices. We are praying for the real people sitting at the kitchen table worrying if they are on the layoff list.

Pray for your brothers and sisters, pray for the non-believers, pray for the gatekeepers and pray for me.

Many of us are far from Christ, to be certain. I was like that, feeling my soul wrapped in the disgusting and darkening tar of cynicism, bitterness and ego. And I was able to lay all of that down at the feet of God and feel free.

I'm not saying the newspaper business will be around in 20 years. But the people who make up its lifeblood will be safe, happy and closer to God.

And that's my point.

mk

Prayer Requests (May 12)

* Chris Ewell, 33, a sports reporter for the Baltimore Sun, died of brain cancer Saturday. Please pray for Chris' friends and family. Here's a link to his story. Sounds like a remarkable man.

...

Thought we were going to get through today without any layoff news.
Alas...

* The Seattle Times is cutting its staff by 125. Please pray for our friends in Seattle.

* Also please pray for our friends at Newsday during their time of transition.

Hope everyone had a good Mother's Day.

Thanks for visiting. Thanks for praying.

Continue to spread the word.

If you want to request a prayer about a person or a paper, please e-mail me.

Prayer requests (May 11)

Happy Mother's Day. Unfortunately, I'm still trying to catch up with some of the recent layoff news. If you know of any, let me know by e-mail. And if anyone knows how to get Romenesko to give us a shotout, please tell me.

* The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is cutting 62 people from its staff. Please pray for our friends in Atlanta.

* Santa Barbara is laying off 16. I'd like to lift up some extra special prayers for our friends in Santa Barbara, who have really been through the wringer. Please remember all of these friends in your prayers.

Thanks for visiting. Thanks for praying.

Prayer requests (May 10)

Hello everyone.

* Looks like Gannett's New Jersey group will be trimming its workforce by 160. Please pray for our friends in New Jersey.

* Please pray for everyone to have a safe an enjoyable Mother's Day. Call your mothers and say thanks. Pray for all the mothers out their, too.

Thank you for stopping by. Please continue to get the word out.

E-mail me with praise, prayers, questions or complaints.

Prayer requests (May 9)

There are so many papers who decided to cut staff before this site started, it would be hard to catch up with all of them. But there are a few of the more recent ones that need our attention.

* The Charlotte Observer is trimming its staff. Please pray for our friends in Charlotte.

* The Boston Globe is shrinking, too. Please pray for our friends in Boston.

* The Bay Area News Group offered buyouts to many employees too. Please pray for our friends in the Bay Area.

* Employees were laid off and some offered buyouts in Myrtle Beach. Please pray for our friends in Myrtle Beach.

I wish it wasn't so easy to find these stories. I'll gladly take requests for invididuals, other papers and anything else and pass it along. Email me here.

Remember, this is about the people in the middle of this shift in our industry. Keep them in your thoughts.

Thanks to everyone who found our site. Please continue to spread the word.

Keep praying.
Thanks and God Bless.