UNITED STATES
Columbia Journalism Review
By David Uberti
The religion of journalism has always found believers in Boston. The same goes for Catholicism. No small wonder, then, why the flagship Boston Globe intends to practice the former creed to examine the latter, an ambitious attempt to attract readers outside of city limits.
On Tuesday, the Globe launched Crux, a standalone website dedicated entirely to Catholicism. It covers not only the church itself, but also topics such as politics, entertainment, travel, and spirituality — all of them through a Catholic lens. The newspaper has been recognized for its local religion reporting in the past. But Catholicism, of course, stretches far past the Archdiocese of Boston, holding potential for a Globe audience spanning, well, the globe.
“We have a pope who is somewhat of a rockstar in terms of the attention he’s getting,” editor Brian McGrory told CJR, referencing Pope Francis, who was elected in 2013. “We’re in this unique moment when there’s not just a thirst of information for the pope and Vatican, but also Catholicism around the world. There’s a need for an unbiased site steeped in good journalism to discuss these issues.”
Crux’s content falls outside the metered paywall protecting most Globe journalism. The single-subject site will instead rely on digital advertisements at a time when many newspapers move their online products in the opposite direction. McGrory said a new ad sales hire, steeped in the Catholic market, will be devoted to Crux. But others wonder whether the site will be able to attract the huge readership needed for sustainable revenue.
“Where’s the money coming from?” said Dan Kennedy, a Northeastern University professor and Boston media analyst. He added that Crux could be well-positioned for a future print product. “We know what the story is from online advertising, and it’s not a pretty story.” …
While the site’s editor, Teresa Hanafin, will be based in Boston with a Web producer and two regular opinion writers, much of Crux’s original reporting will boast out-of-town datelines. Its Vatican reporter will be based in Rome and its national reporter is expected to move to Chicago by the end of the year, Hanafin said. John L. Allen Jr., a prominent religion reporter who will anchor Crux’s news coverage, is based in Denver.
“If all we were doing was covering the Vatican, put me to sleep now,” Hanafin said, offering examples of the broader scope that Crux readers should expect, such as a feature on Catholicism as practiced by a Native American community in North Dakota. “There’s so much more to Catholicism than what goes on in Rome.”
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