Walter Ratliff is an award-winning journalist and religion scholar based in Washington, DC. He is currently Religion Editor and Content Manager at the Associated Press. He is also the author of Pilgrims on the Silk Road: A Muslim-Christian Encounter in Khiva and the producer/director of the documentary Through the Desert Goes Our Journey: The Mennonite Trek to Khiva. He won an Emmy Award in the musical composition/arrangement category for his work on “Through the Desert Goes Our Journey” from the Heartland chapter of the NATAS.
His book and film chronicle the story of Mennonites who fled the Russian Empire for Central Asia in search of religious freedom and a refuge from the Tribulation, and found themselves in the care of a Muslim king.
During the 2008 presidential election season, Ratliff worked as a consultant and researcher on a documentary for German television (ZDF, Arte) about religion in American politics. At the Associated Press, he produced a series of documentary reports on Islam in Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, Great Britain’s immigrant community and America’s prisons. He also won a “Beat of the Week” award for his work on AP’s Pope John Paul II multimedia profile.
In 2004, Ratliff earned a master’s degree in Islam and Muslim–Christian Relations from Georgetown, the leading Jesuit university. This followed an M.A. from Wheaton College, an Evangelical institution. He also holds a joint degree in Journalism and Religious Studies from the University of New Mexico.
In 2001, Ratliff launched the DC desk for AP’s online video division. Just prior to joining the world’s largest newsgathering organization, he produced a documentary on Muslim-Christian violence in Northern Nigeria, and covered the funeral of executed human rights leader Ken Saro-Wiwa in the Niger Delta region. He also worked closely with Arabs, Israelis and Europeans delivering news from the United States. He began his broadcasting career at KLYT-FM in Albuquerque, NM and his journalism career at KOAT-TV.
Walter Ratliff at the Internet Movie Database
Pilgrims on the Silk Road website
Through the Desert Goes Our Journey website
Profile at The Kansan.com
“Bethel Musicians Win Regional Emmy” Mennonite Weekly Review, Sept. 13, 2010
“Field Work Grounded in the Classroom,” The Hoya, January 15, 2010
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