Read it and Worship

We noticed what seemed like an unusual comment in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Jan. 27 article about Stephen Caldwell being hired as city editor and Jennifer Cook being promoted.

“Stephen and Jennifer have deep roots in this region where we work, worship and raise our families,” said Susan Scantlin.

Scantlin oversees the D-G’s Northwest Arkansas news operation.

We couldn’t help wondering if she included the word “worship” because Caldwell is the former managing editor of The Life@Work Journal, a Christian business magazine, or if this means the D-G’s news coverage will now have a religious slant to it.

In mid-January, Caldwell was serving as press secretary for Lucas Roebuck, a self-proclaimed “evangelical Christian” who is running for the District 97 state representative seat. There was a time not so long ago when serving as a candidate’s press secretary meant that a journalist had left that profession for good and would never be allowed to return. Apparently, times have changed.