Union of Orthodox Journalists (UOJ): Mission, Goals, and Objectives

Mission

The Union of Orthodox Journalists (UOJ) is an international media project aimed at creating a unique platform that embraces Orthodox Christians worldwide. Our mission is to amplify the voices of Orthodox believers who remain steadfast in their traditional and conservative values, rooted in the Gospel teachings, Holy Tradition, and Canon Law of the Orthodox Church. We aim to provide every participant in our media platform with the opportunity to be heard on the global stage. Our vision is to reinforce Orthodox identity, uphold Christian values, and serve as a source of strength and inspiration for the entire Orthodox community.

History and Uniqueness of the Project

The UOJ was established in 2014 amidst the church-political crisis in Ukraine, a time when the Ukrainian Orthodox community faced intense pressure and various forms of oppression. State authorities, media, and political elites were largely hostile toward our Church. In such challenging circumstances, we had to build effective informational platforms from scratch, concurrently seeking out opinion leaders within the Orthodox community – individuals capable of providing objective evaluations of events, countering media attacks, and guiding public consciousness toward seeking truth.

Our project evolved in an environment where simply republishing materials from other platforms wasn’t enough – we took it upon ourselves to actively create content: analytical articles, interviews, commentaries, and more. Unlike many church media outlets operating in the comfort zone of ‘peaceful times,’ often relying on reprinted stuff, our team ventured straight into the heart of events to uncover vivid stories for articles and reports. We sought out compelling narratives and delivered them to our audience. We worked tirelessly to reveal the profound richness of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at a time when it was under relentless attack. Our efforts aimed to showcase its wisdom and bring forth the voices of spiritually mature individuals who could inspire and uplift others.

Principles and Values of the UOJ

Our media project is based on conservative Orthodox principles and traditional Christian values. We believe that Orthodoxy plays a vital role in the cultural and spiritual life of nations and individuals alike. The key principles guiding our work include:

1. Christian Humanism – Respect for human rights and freedom of conscience.
2. Traditional Family Values – Supporting families and raising children based on Christian truths.
3. Objectivity and Accurate Information – Combatting fake news and manipulations in media.
4. Respect for Church Independence – Preventing interference from political and secular forces in Church affairs.
5. Support for International Orthodox Unity – Promoting a unified stance among Orthodox believers worldwide.

Primary Goals of the UOJ

1. Amplifying the Voice of Traditional Orthodoxy – Creating a platform where advocates of conservative views can confidently express their positions.
2. Revealing the Spiritual Wealth of the Church – Showcasing the wisdom and uniqueness of the Orthodox worldview to society.
3. Actively Seeking and Supporting Orthodox Experts – Not just waiting for materials but creating them vigorously through interviews and commentary with authoritative figures in theology, politics, and culture.
4. Uniting Orthodox Forces Globally – Establishing an international network of branches, each functioning within a unified editorial policy while accounting for local societal characteristics.

Union of Orthodox Journalists of America (UOJ-America)

UOJ-America is a pan-Orthodox news and media cooperative. Our mission is to provide accurate, timely, and relevant reporting on the life of Orthodox communities across the United States. While our editorial team and contributors come from diverse jurisdictional backgrounds, we are united by our Orthodox faith in Christ and our shared desire to defend canonical Orthodoxy.

The UOJ-America Editorial Team

Ben Dixon is the Editor-in-Chief and founder of UOJ’s American Bureau. A veteran of the 101st Airborne Division and the French Foreign Legion, he has spent the past eight years in conservative politics, serving as a campaign manager, consultant, and board member of the Young Republican National Federation (YRNF), including roles as Political Director and advisor to the Chairman. He is also a writing fellow at America’s Future and is active in several nonprofit organizations.

Ben is a layman in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) and serves as the catechist for his local parish.

Michael Warren Davis worked in Catholic media for nearly a decade before converting to Orthodoxy. He previously served as a contributing editor at The American Conservative, editor-in-chief of Crisis Magazine, and U.S. editor of the Catholic Herald. He and his wife have three children and are members of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).

A 2022 graduate of Iowa State University, Aaron earned his bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communications, with minors in History and Philosophy. While at Iowa State, he wrote for the Iowa State Daily—the university’s independent student news organization, established in 1890.

After graduation, he joined a publishing company that owns ten newspapers across Nebraska and Iowa. Within six months, he was promoted from reporter to associate editor of two of the company’s publications, a role he held until joining UOJ as News Editor. With a strong background in both print and digital journalism, Aaron brings his skills and dedication to UOJ’s mission to promote and defend Orthodoxy through timely and faithful coverage of Church life. Aaron is a lifelong member of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (GOARCH).

Submissions & Op-Eds

UOJ-America welcomes submissions from Orthodox Christians across jurisdictions who wish to contribute thoughtful commentary, theological insight, or timely reflection on the life of the Church.

We accept a wide range of topics, including:

• Theology and apologetics
• Catechetical exhortations
• Reflections on Church life and tradition
• Commentary on social and political developments affecting Orthodox communities
• Letters to the editor and short op-eds

Submission Guidelines:

• Short op-eds and letters to the editor should range from 300 to 600 words.
• Feature articles and topical submissions should be between 800 and 1,200 words, with a maximum of 1,600 words.
• Please include a suggested title, subheader (1–2 sentence summary), and a brief author bio (1–3 sentences).
• Submissions must be original and not published elsewhere at the time of submission.
• At this time, we are unable to offer compensation for accepted pieces.

Please send all submissions to [email protected].

If you do not receive a response within three business days, you may assume we have decided not to publish your piece and are free to submit it elsewhere.

We thank you for your interest in contributing to the life and witness of Orthodox journalism in America.

For general questions, comments, or journalistic inquiries, please contact: [email protected]