Holy third rail! The Chicago-based TV news upstart NewsNation is showing some love for an American demographic that much of the media has a hard time getting its hands, head and hearts around. Headed up by just-named Special Projects Anchor Adrienne Bankert (formerly of ABC’s Good Morning America), One Nation Under God is a new series of reports focusing on how the faithful are drawing on their faith to uplift their own lives and, they believe, the life of the nation.

JWK: So, tell me about your new series on faith in America.

Adrienne Bankert: The role of this series is to tell stories of faith from across America because most people in our country do believe in God. It influences how they live, it influences what kind of medical care they receive, it influences what type of perspective or opinion they have about how their children should be taught and it influences how they vote.

So, it’s a really timely series. It’s an opportunity to share voices that sometimes have been quieter (on) mainstream news and mainstream media overall. I believe, across the board, all journalists should be more fluent when it comes to faith. Most people, if they take a step back, can see that in news – whether it’s local or national – many journalists refer to Christians in a very lumped category called “the evangelicals.” If you were to ask most Americans what’s the difference between an evangelical and any other denomination or categorization they would not be able to tell you unless (to say) “Well, they’re not Catholic.” Or “Well, I don’t know. Are they nondenominational?” I think that even most Christians do not categorize themselves as evangelical.

It’s time to discuss faith because it is so much of the value system that most people living in our country abide by. To keep ignoring it, or to say it’s taboo, is really a dated state of mind. So, I’m very excited that we’re able to talk to people – regular Americans, everyday people – from the perspective of faith because it influences everything.

JWK: To be clear, you’re just saying people don’t understand the distinction between an evangelical Christian and other Christians. I don’t think you’re saying that there’s anything wrong with being an evangelical.

AB: Of course not. There’s no negative to anything I said. The fact is is that category doesn’t not even mean anything (to many people). I mean they don’t know what an evangelical is from a martian. I didn’t grow up categorizing people (as) evangelical. (When) I grew up…you might ask somebody what church they went to but that title has been (mixed up with) politics.

JWK: How did the idea for this series come about?

AB: It was a conversation that I had with our news president. He and I were sitting in his office and he said “You know what? I think this is what you should do. I think this is your sweet spot.” And I said “Okay.” That’s really what happened.

JWK: Has faith played an important role in your own life?

AB: Oh, absolutely! You know what I think is really interesting – and I’ve spoken about this before – is that most people are informed by their own life. We talk about being “news for all America” and we talk about removing bias from reporting but even if you are not biased you are informed by your experience. In college, we’re not taught as students to embrace the values (and) the upbringing that we had (that could help us better understand). I have found in my experience – through working with people, meeting people when they’re in a time of tragedy if I’m covering very difficult story, to people who are getting ready to vote at the polls, to those who have just accomplished some grand success – often times they will thank God, they will say they’re blessed or they will say “This is something that I’ve prayed for.” That should no longer be something that we have to leave out of our reporting. You can be someone who is informed by faith without being biased or against other groups. That’s some of what I’ve talked to my boss about. That’s something that I’ve talked to other journalists about.

We talk about mental health more frequently in culture and in conversation. Mental health is a battle that a lot of people use faith to win and people’s states of mind have been really tested over these past few years. Faith has been tested over these past few years. Why would we not talk about it? It’s not just my faith. It’s not just what I believe. Really, in one sense, it has nothing to do with my faith. This has to do with me being able to be fluent with people who happen to believe in God. There are different paths that people take to get there but I happen to not have a problem with – or be uncomfortable with – talking about it. I think that some people still are. In fact, I don’t think, I know some people still are.

JWK: Why do you think that is? As you say, particularly in broadcast journalism it does seem to be treated as a subject that is almost embarrassing to even bring up. Maybe Fox News is somewhat of an exception but, by and large, the TV news operations seem a bit uncomfortable with the subject of religion.

AB: I think that it’s been politicized. I think that there’s been  misinterpretation of the separation of church and state. I believe that some people have been taught to be more discreet with their faith – and I think that that’s okay. Be discreet – but I don’t think that we should ever vilify people because they believe in God. I mean we’re talking about things that are supernatural. At the same time, you look at some of the reporting we’ve done – and others have done – and we’re having testimonials on Capitol Hill about UFOs. Somebody could vilify or look down on that but it’s not encouraged. So, why would we look down on somebody because they pray before they go play in the Super Bowl? That’s a part of their story. I think that we are sending a mixed message to communities that represent them (when we) don’t cover faith – don’t cover their Ground Zero (that is) integral to who they are. We’re just leaving it on the side because it’s “none of our business” or “It’s something between you and God” or “You can talk about that in church.” (Religion is said have) caused people to fight over (issues like) gender education or deciding whether to take the vaccine or not…I really believe that (reporting on faith) is gonna help people get a better understanding of how people think, not divide people.

JWK: Building on what you’re saying, it seems to me that sometimes the media looks at science and faith as being incompatible.

AB: There are very brilliant people who wrote our Constitution. They happen to have been educated and they happened to believe in God. You can point to a lot of different examples.

I think often because television is visual, because media is about getting people’s attention – it has been forever; this is not to make media bad – often times what is attractive is extremes. So, if faith is portrayed, up until now in the media, it has been because of people on the extreme or on the fringe of different beliefs. There are a whole lot of people in the middle who are not extreme. They’re very moderate politically. They’re very moderate in their faith. They just want to live a good life. They want to go to work, they want to make good money, they want to be able to afford to put their kids in the right school, they want to come home safely, they don’t want to deal with crime – and they happen to pray about all those things.

I think it’s important to show people the everyday experience of somebody who believes in God. That’s 80% of the country. Over 60% consider themselves Christian. Then you’ve got people who are extremely successful – in the top, I’d day, 10% of either income earners or (some other) definition of success – who believe that God got them to that point (such as) the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson. Some people might have their opinions about him but he believes. (Super Bowl quarterbacks) Brock Purdy and Patrick Mahomes believe in God and have strong faith.

JWK: Patrick Mahomes certainly expressed his faith after the Chief’s big win. I understand your first segment of One Nation Under God featured Brock Purdy.

AB: We mentioned both. It just so happens that, not far from Chicago in Iowa, Brock went to school at Iowa State. We were able to talk to people who knew him, who he still visits when he goes to church there, (about) his experience in school being someone who’s very bold in his faith. As a younger person, I remember it not being cool to talk about Jesus. I remember it not being cool to talk about church. It doesn’t have to be an awkward conversation. It’s just another expression of that everyday American experience. This series is really about depicting the stories of people who are going after the American Dream – with faith as their driving force.

JWK: How often will this series run?

AB:  As often as I get them out. Right now it’s twice a week. We’ll see how much more I can do. I have a great team of people helping me put these stories together…As a storyteller, I’m really thinking “At the end of the day, is this a good story? Is this somebody who can…relate to the viewers (and) show us a different side of life? It’s not a “faith-based series” for NewsNation. It’s to show Americans who are faithful. I think that that’s a clear distinction. Again, I really believe most people don’t know what to say (because they’re made to feel uneasy when it comes to discussing faith).

JWK: My own person opinion is that most people aren’t that uncomfortable with the subject of faith and religion – but the media does seem to be.

AB: Right! I agree with you! I totally agree with you! I’m in the media but not of the media, in a sense. I was surprised myself at how – when I started telling people about this – the younger journalists were almost eager to hear how I balance being a journalist and being somebody who covers faith – because they wanted to know how they could say what they did or how they could balance the two. What a shame in 2024. Most of the people we knew, if they didn’t grow up in church, their parents did. So, it’s not alien or foreign as an experience. I think that so many times we try so hard not to offend anyone that we end up leaving a lot of people out. I’m very grateful that NewsNation is interested in this kind of content and desires to tell these kinds of stories in a way that we know will spark interest and people will relate to them. I mean we’re all looking for something that will help us.

My hope was that when I came here to Chicago we would do stories that are solution based – that would somehow show cities, counties (and) states that are doing something right that could be duplicated. One of the stories I’m following – which I hope we get on air next week or the week after – is about homelessness. As pervasive as that problem is, faith communities have been working quietly behind the scenes for eons to address the needs of those that are the poorest among us, the unhoused. So, there are groups now – you mention science and faith – that are combining technology, studies done on mental illness and addiction along with compassion and spiritual growth to help people not just be sheltered but actually come out of homelessness…Whether it’s a faith-based organization or an institution like a university or a corporation, most of the solutions in the country for those that are the least among us in terms of poverty, illness (and) addiction come about by way of some faith organization doing the work with other city and community groups. It’s time to show that. It’s time to show what works.

JWK: By the way, I believe NewsNation is coming up on its third anniversary on March 1st. You were there almost from the beginning. How does it feel to be part of his upstart news network?

AB: (laughs) Upstart. I will tell you this. Coming to Chicago was the best thing I’ve ever done. I love living here. I love working here. I did not know how much I would enjoy it. It is also one of the most – if not the most – challenging things I’ve ever done because I never worked for a startup before in my entire life. I’m so much more used to, you know, legacy groups. So, I feel very honored that I get to be a part of building something. I can say that it has definitely made me stronger and it has definitely changed my life.

JWK: Where do you see the network – and yourself – in five years?

AB: Omigosh! That’s one we’ll have to save for another interview.

JWK: We can do that. Anything else you’d like to say as we wrap up this one?

AB: I just hope that everybody no matter what their background – faith-based or otherwise – that they all tune in because I think that the more we see each other, the more we see what makes each of us tick, the more we can have empathy and the more we can have open conversation and understand where people are coming from. So, I welcome everyone to watch.
_____

Storyteller to Storyteller. Kingdom Story Company Co-Founder and CEO Andrew Erwin has launched a new podcast aptly called The Storytellers. The series features accomplished artists of faith talking about their personal journeys. Interviews in the can include conversations with actor Dennis Quaid, musician Brian “Head” Welch, actress and TV executive Candace Cameron Bure, film and TV producer DeVon Franklin and sitcom legend Patricia Heaton. Upcoming editions are set to include Roma Downey, Sound of Freedom writer-director Alejandro Monteverde and Duck Dynasty star Willie Robertson.

BTW, Andrew Erwin’s new movie Ordinary Angels (starring Hilary Swank andReacher‘s Alan Ritchson) hits theaters next Thursday (02/22). My conversation with him about the film will run next Wednesday.
_____