The Alabama Baptist

The Alabama Baptist is a weekly newspaper whose mission is to empower readers to live out Christian discipleship in their personal, professional and church lives. The aim of The Alabama Baptist is to equip readers with resources and information, and to do that with competence, compassion, fairness and dependability as a news source.[1]

The Alabama Baptist
TypeWeekly newspaper
Owner(s)The Alabama Baptist, Inc.
Founder(s)Milo P. Jewett, Gen. Edwin D. King, James H. DeVotie, and Julia T. Barron
PublisherThe Alabama Baptist
EditorJennifer Rash
FoundedFeb. 4, 1843
LanguageEnglish
Headquarters3310 Independence Drive, Birmingham, Alabama
CityBirmingham, Alabama
CountryUnited States
Circulation55,000 subscribers
Readership200,000
OCLC number948518807
Websitewww.thealabamabaptist.org

The Alabama Baptist is the largest state Baptist paper in circulation.

The Alabama Baptist is an entity of the Alabama Baptist State Convention owned by The Alabama Baptist, Inc., under leadership of a board of directors approved by messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention.

History

On February 4, 1843, the first issue of The Alabama Baptist was printed in Marion, Alabama. The Association of Brethren appeared on the masthead as the owners and editors. The association was composed of Milo Parker Jewett, James H. DeVotie, Gen. Edwin Davis “E.D.” King and Julia Tarrant Barron.[2] All were active members of Siloam Baptist Church in Marion and were financially able to secure the paper's future.

A few historians over the years have suggested that a paper called The Family Visitor was a precursor to The Alabama Baptist newspaper, but no written accounts have survived to support this claim. Alabama Baptist State Convention annuals from 1833 through 1863 make no reference to The Family Visitor being a denominational publication.[2]

It seems the first embers of a lasting Baptist paper were sparked on February 4, 1843, when The Alabama Baptist, a privately owned newspaper, printed its first issue. History seems to show it was started afresh by Baptists as an original entity, not a retooled version of an existing paper. That fall, convention messengers adopted a resolution calling The Alabama Baptist the organ through which convention officers would communicate with the churches, and Baptists finally had a voice. The resolution “urgently” recommended the paper be placed in every Baptist home in the state, and it “warmly” commended the “energy and liberality” of those who started the paper. But the 1843 report of the Committee on Periodicals of the State Convention made it clear that the convention had no liabilities for what the independent paper published.[2]

Editors[2]

Frank Willis Barnett

Frank Willis Barnett (Oct. 23, 1865—June 29, 1941) purchased The Alabama Baptist of Montgomery in 1901 from owner and editor John G. Harris for $7,500. He then bought The Baptist Evangel of Birmingham and The Baptist Herald of Florida. In January 1902, the first issue of The Southern and Alabama Baptist appeared.

Leslie Lee Gwaltney

Leslie Lee Gwaltney (March 5, 1876—Nov. 11, 1955) was introduced as editor in the March 20, 1919, issue of The Alabama Baptist. Previously he served as associate editor of the paper from 1914 to 1916. The paper's office was in Montgomery at that time. Six months after becoming editor, Gwaltney moved the paper to Birmingham. He served as editor until his retirement on July 1, 1950.

Leon Meertief Macon

Leon Meertief Macon (Oct. 25, 1908—Nov. 15, 1965) became editor of The Alabama Baptist July 1, 1950. As editor, he felt it was his responsibility to carry the torch for moral behavior and stand against unethical practices and people. Baptist beliefs were always in the forefront of his message, especially those of separation of church and state, priesthood of the believer, autonomy of the local church and caution against too much government in the denomination and in the nation. During his time as editor, circulation more than doubled from about 46,000 in 1950 to more than 106,000 in 1960. Macon said, “The Alabama Baptist is the newspaper for the Baptists in Alabama and we feel it must ever be free to inform the people, to deal with the problems of the times, and to seek to get people to think for themselves. It is a means of communication by which the church members can know the truth about the society in which they live and the church to which they belong.”

Hudson Doyle Baggett

Hudson Doyle Baggett (July 23, 1923—Nov. 17, 1994) was installed as editor of The Alabama Baptist on May 13, 1966. He was introduced as someone who had been a preacher's friend and was a preacher “of no mean ability” himself. Baggett responded, “I pledge dedication to the task of seeking, interpreting and presenting the truth in the light of study and research. I covet your prayers.” In 1973, he published a special Sesquicentennial celebratory issue of the paper for the Alabama Baptist State Convention's 150th anniversary. In May 1975, he wrote about plans for the paper's new home, and in June 1976, the office of The Alabama Baptist in Homewood was dedicated, debt free. Baggett continually promoted all state and convention missions efforts and Woman's Missionary Union, using as his motto, Make light, not heat. On Nov. 16, 2994, Baggett presented the annual report of The Alabama Baptist at the state convention. In typical Baggett style, he included a mini sermon. The next day Baggett had a massive heart attack and died in Point Clear, Alabama, where he and June had gone for a quick getaway following the convention. Sorely missed by Alabama leaders and church members, “Mr. Alabama Baptist” would be remembered for his motto: Make light, not heat. He was serving as editor at the time of his death.

Bobby S. “Bob” Terry

Bobby S. “Bob” Terry became editor of The Alabama on Aug. 1, 1995. His immediate focus was on quality journalism and statewide coverage. The Alabama Baptist has been named best regional Christian newspaper in America 11 times since Terry became editor. More than 200 individual awards have been received by the paper and various staff members during his 23 years as editor. To ensure statewide coverage, the paper set a goal of covering every association in the state at least twice each year, a goal it has consistently met. Terry retired as editor on Dec. 31, 2018, and is now editor emeritus.

Jennifer Davis Rash

Jennifer Davis Rash serves as president and editor-in-chief of The Alabama Baptist.

A native of Phil Campbell, Rash earned her associate’s degree from Northwest Community College, her bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Alabama and her master of theological studies from Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham.

Rash came to TAB in January 1996 as a news writer and worked her way up to managing editor then executive editor before being named editor-elect in 2015 and then the first female editor of a major Baptist newspaper beginning Jan. 1, 2019. Throughout the years she has helped lead the editorial team to win more than 250 national awards.

While on staff at TAB, Rash has served in a variety of national and local leadership roles. She served as president of Baptist Communicators Association and vice president of Associated Church Press, two national organizations for professional Christian communicators, and in various positions with Religion Communicators Council, Evangelical Press Association and Alabama Press Association. She is currently president-elect of the Association of State Baptist Publications.

Before coming to TAB she served for two years with the International Mission Board and Caribbean Christian Publications.

Today

The Alabama Baptist publishes 50 issues annually and maintains an active online presence at www.TheAlabamaBaptist.org and on social media. The weekly paper is mailed to more than 55,000 homes, with a total readership of about 200,000. More than 3,000 subscribers receive the PDF edition each week.[1] The newspaper attempts to provide concise and balanced reporting of events related to religion, and gives editorial advice on moral and ethical issues from a biblical standpoint.[3]

Affiliations

Baptist Communicators Association

Alabama Press Association

Evangelical Press Association

Religion Communicators Council

Associated Church Press

Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability

Awards

The Alabama Baptist is an award-winning publication having been honored by Associated Church Press, Evangelical Press Association and Religion Communicators Council as the top regional Christian newspaper in America. The paper also has won awards in writing, photography, design and general excellence from these three groups as well as Baptist Communicators Association. The commitment to the Christian faith and the outstanding professional preparation of the paper's staff is reflected by more than 200 national awards that hang in the Halls of Honor at the state Baptist paper's office building.[4]

2018 Better Newspaper Contest - Alabama Press Association[5]

YearAwardPlaceRecipient
2018Best Feature Story Coverage 1stEd Enoch
2018Best Niche Publication - Newsprint or Glossy1stThe Alabama Baptist

See also

References

  1. "Our Story - The Alabama Baptist". The Alabama Baptist. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  2. Elizabeth Wells and Grace Thornton (2018). The Alabama Baptist: 175 Years of Informing, Inspiring and Connecting Baptists (Hardcover). Birmingham, AL: The Alabama Baptist. pp. 141–150. ISBN 978-0-99955-240-7.
  3. Debra Wagner (2006). Good News: The Best Religion Writing in North America. Church Publishing, Inc. p. 152. ISBN 1-59627-028-4.
  4. "Awards and Recognitions - The Alabama Baptist". The Alabama Baptist. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  5. Langan, Jaclyn. "APA Better Newspaper Contest Award Winners Announced" (PDF). Alabama Press Association. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
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