It can be wild online-world in independent, Adventist journalism. If a fellow Adventist forwards you an article, you may not be sure whether you can trust the source.
Introduction
While this guide will not tell you who to trust, it will tell you where those behind the most commonly forwarded articles are coming from.
In my decade-plus experience of following and writing in this space, I can assure you not everything you read in independent, Adventist journalism that you want to be true is, in fact, true. And not everything you read in it that you suspect is fake-news is, in fact, false.
Not all of the outlets in this guide follow best journalistic practices. Some do not attempt to. Not all of them will help you build a balanced faith. Some do not attempt to.
The purpose of this guide is to make you conversant about the sources, so that you can research, seek advice, and make informed judgments about their claims. You will have to decide which (if any) of these outlets you will patronize and which (if any) conversations on them are worth following.
Remember, "Knowledge' puffs up, but love builds up" (1 Corinthians 8:1).
Caveat lector: Much of this is based on my personal impressions, informed by feed-back from select individuals. Acknowledgement is not endorsement. This is not a fact-checking service.
Criteria for Inclusion in the Guide
- Operated by Seventh-day Adventists (no offshoots)
- Offer news and opinion about Seventh-day Adventist issues
- Publish text-based journalism in English
- Offer open, online content (no paywall)
- Ranked on Alexa at the time of this writing
The Guide to the Guide
(Warning: Failure to read this section may result in misunderstandings.)
- Reporting voice: modes and styles of expression that distinguish its news pieces
- Editorial voice: modes and styles of expression that distinguish its opinion pieces
- News topics covered: subjects that are likely to be reported
- Opinion topics covered: theological/political opinions that set it apart
- Publishes views contrary to the 28 Fundamental Beliefs: yes or no
- Hill to die on: an issue-stance that epitomizes its moral core
- Publishes contrary opinions: yes or no
- Publishes corrections: yes or no
- Alexa traffic/engagement rank: website ranking as of time of this writing (For comparison, adventistreview.org ranks at #382,661; #1 being the most visited and engaged website on the internet.)
- Other media: print, video, podcast, livestream, etc.
The following independent Adventist journalism outlets appear in order of their Alexa ranking:
Spectrum (spectrummagazine.org)
- Reporting voice: neutral, investigative
- Editorial voice: scholarly essay, personal essay, jeremiad
- News topics covered: church politics, progressive Adventist conferences and academic symposia, church medical and development work, Adventists in the media, Adventists who hold views or make accomplishments outside of the mainstream of the church, in-depth investigation
- Opinion topics covered: the Sabbath School lesson, inequality and injustice, peace issues, critical takes on traditional Adventist theology and practice, contemporary spiritual practice
- Publishes views contrary to the 28 Fundamental Beliefs: yes
- Hill to die on: same-sex marriage
- Publishes contrary opinions: yes
- Publishes corrections: yes
- Alexa traffic/engagement rank: #258,636
- Other media: print journal, podcast
Adventist Today (atoday.org)
- Reporting voice: neutral, exposé
- Editorial voice: scholarly essay, personal essay, satirical
- News topics covered: church politics, church corruption, Adventists in the media, progressive Adventist conferences
- Opinion topics covered: critical takes on traditional Adventist theology and practice, Adventist angles on the news-cycle, lifestyle advice with a progressive slant
- Publishes views contrary to the 28 Fundamental Beliefs: yes
- Hill to die on: theistic evolution
- Publishes contrary opinions: yes
- Publishes corrections: no
- Alexa traffic/engagement rank: #614,137
- Other media: print magazine, books
Advent Messenger (adventmessenger.org)
- Reporting voice: muckraking, sensationalistic
- Editorial voice: sectarian diatribe
- News topics covered: heresy and apostasy
- Opinion topics covered: conspiracies about ecumenism, abortion, pluralism, etc.
- Publishes views contrary to the 28 Fundamental Beliefs: no
- Hill to die on: denominational leadership compromised by Roman Catholic influence
- Publishes contrary opinions: no
- Publishes corrections: no
- Alexa traffic/engagement rank: #977,274
- Other media: sermon audio
ADvindicate (advindicate.com)
- Reporting voice: promotional
- Editorial voice: personal essay, haranguing
- News topics covered: mostly promoting books and conferences
- Opinion topics covered: salvation and end-time events, lifestyle standards, social justice, religious liberty
- Publishes views contrary to the 28 Fundamental Beliefs: no
- Hill to die on: last-generation theology
- Publishes contrary opinions: no
- Publishes corrections: yes
- Alexa traffic/engagement rank: #1,209,410
- Other media: podcast
Fulcrum7 (fulcrum7.com)
- Reporting voice: muckraking
- Editorial voice: personal essay, snarky
- News topics covered: church politics, heresy and apostasy
- Opinion topics covered: critical takes on progressive Adventist theology and practice, right-wing and alt-right politics and cultural critique
- Publishes views contrary to the 28 Fundamental Beliefs: no
- Hill to die on: male-only ordination
- Publishes contrary opinions: no
- Publishes corrections: no
- Alexa traffic/engagement rank: #1,467,277
- Other media: none
The Compass Magazine (thecompassmagazine.com)
- Reporting voice: neutral, unfiltered
- Editorial voice: scholarly essay, personal essay, disquisitive
- News topics covered: conservative Adventist academic symposia, world church politics
- Opinion topics covered: graduate research, devotionals, defenses of traditional Adventist theology, Ellen White pieces
- Publishes views contrary to the 28 Fundamental Beliefs: no
- Hill to die on: the 28 Fundamental Beliefs
- Publishes contrary opinions: yes
- Publishes corrections: no
- Alexa traffic/engagement rank: #4,702,004
- Other media: videos
This guide may be updated from time to time.
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