Magazine Training International (MTI) is pleased to announce that Humanitarian Disaster Institute (HDI) of Wheaton College has joined the Crisis Publishing Coalition.

Coalition members are organizations and individuals who make up a board of reference for the Crisis Publishing Initiative: Professional Training in Covering Crises to be held 15 – 18 October, 2017, in Europe. Coalition members advertise the program to their constituents, recommend speakers, and serve as advisors to program organizers.

“We have seen first hand the powerful impact thoughtful reporting on faith issues can have on communities impacted by mass and humanitarian disasters,” says Dr. Jamie Aten, director of HDI. “At the same time, we have observed situations where media caused more harm than good.

“Overall, there has been a drastic increase in mass and humanitarian disasters. There is a significant need for a forum to better prepare religious reporting to tackle today’s global crises. This is why we’ve chosen to join the Crisis Publishing Initiative coalition.”

“We are pleased to welcome Humanitarian Disaster Institute as a coalition partner for this initiative.” says MTI President Sharon Mumper. “I look forward to working together in the future.”

The three-and-a-half-day Crisis Publishing Initiative is designed for Christian writers, editors, and publishers who face the challenge of reporting on catastrophic events. Participants will learn how to discover and report the truth in complex, rapidly-changing situations and how to offer a biblical perspective to their readers. And, they will receive reliable background information on the crises about which they must write.

The Initiative will offer three separate tracks with sessions on topics like guiding and caring for “War Zone” reporters, moving beyond the five “W’s”, staying safe in dangerous situations, photographing tragedy, coping with the emotional impact of reporting on tragedy, and tools for covering crises.

Other coalition members include Tyndale House Foundation, Evangelical Press Association, and COMIX35.

Tyndale House Foundation seeks to minister to the spiritual needs of people, primarily through literature consistent with biblical principles.

The mission of COMIX35 is to bring people to Jesus Christ through the visual storytelling media of comics.

The Evangelical Press Association is a professional association of Christian publications that strengthens evangelical periodicals through inspiration, instruction, and networking.

by Jennifer Howard, communications director