Lobdell covered the religion beat for the The Los Angeles Times for eight years, first as a columnist and then as a religion beat reporter. He earned several national awards for his work. As a reporter, Lobdell covered the Catholic clergy abuse crisis and televangelist financial malfeasance, among other stories. In 2007, Lobdell published a column in the Times revealing that what he saw and experienced covering religion – and its failures – had caused him to lose his own Christian faith.

Lobdell asked for a new beat at the newspaper and became an editor in 2006. He left the paper in 2008. His memoir, “Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America — and Found Unexpected Peace,” was published in 2009. Lobdell also is a blogger, author and has been a guest lecturer for 12 years at the University of California, Irvine, where he teaches “Religion and the Media,” “Politics and the American Media” and “Blogs and the Media.” Copies of Lobdell’s book will be available for sale and signing at the event.

Sponsored by the Center on Religion & the Professions. Free.

UPDATE:  See article in the Columbia Missourian April 9, 2009

April 7, 2009 – 7-9 p.m.
Fred W. Smith Forum, Reynolds Journalism Institute
Missouri School of Journalism