What began as a secondary idea quickly evolved into a standout feature when Report for America reporter Charlotte Kramon and religion video journalist Jessie Wardarski visited 2819 Church in Atlanta. Initially in the field for another assignment, the pair added on a trip to document the fast-growing church that’s drawing in young worshippers at a time when church attendance nationwide is on the decline.
Before the visit, Kramon flagged the church as a promising subject to Wardarski and Religion Editor Holly Meyer, who encouraged the team to pursue it as an exception to national trends. Kramon secured access for interviews, Sunday worship coverage and a sit-down with the church’s charismatic pastor, Philip Anthony Mitchell.
The resulting all-formats package — including text, photos, an “AP Was There” sidebar and a digital video — was vivid, compelling and widely shared across platforms. The story resonated strongly with online audiences, delivering outstanding engagement metrics and proving the value of smart, flexible field reporting paired with editorial instinct.
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