Matthew Bell

Editor

Matthew Bell is an editor at The World.

I’m an editor based in the Boston newsroom — working from home a lot lately, of course. I work closely with our correspondents who cover the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America.

By way of background, I studied comparative religion and Chinese history at the University of Vermont. That led me to Mandarin language classes and UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, and then to KQED Radio in San Francisco. From there, I started freelancing for The World and joined the team full-time here in Boston in late 2001.

In my previous life as a reporter, I was blessed with the opportunity to cover a huge range of stories for The World. But some of the most memorable ones involved taking a trip on a Louisiana shrimping boat in the Gulf of Mexico, covering events in Egypt during the so-called Arab Spring, and meeting North Korean refugees in Seoul, South Korea.

I’m super interested in religion and I tend to think most big news stories have an important, if overlooked, religion angle. I’ve reported a lot on US foreign policy, human rights in China, North Korea’s nuclear activities and life in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Beyond journalism, I’m helping to raise kids and engaged in the lifelong pursuit of learning to play the electric guitar.

Ukrainian soldiers inspect trenches used by Russian soldiers during the occupation of villages on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, April 1, 2022.

The war in Ukraine is also about religion

Russian President Vladimir Putin has given various reasons to justify his decision to order an attack on Ukraine. But one thing he talked about early on was religion.

The war in Ukraine is also about religion
A woman speaks on her mobile phone while waiting for a light rail train, wearing a mask on her chin that she'll be required to pull over her nose and mouth on the train to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, in central Jerusalem.

Israeli researchers try to find COVID 'threshold' with fourth vaccine dose

Israeli researchers try to find COVID 'threshold' with fourth vaccine dose
a man in a suit walks with people standing by

New testimony, transcripts, paint fuller picture of quid pro quo

New testimony, transcripts, paint fuller picture of quid pro quo
Nancy Pelosi in blue in front of American flags

Key moments in the impeachment inquiry

Key moments in the impeachment inquiry
Pnina Tomano-Shata spoke at a town hall meeting for Ethiopian Israeli voters in the town of Or Yehuda ahead of Israel's national election on September 17, 2019.

'They need to stop killing our kids': Ethiopian Israeli lawmakers tackle police brutality

'They need to stop killing our kids': Ethiopian Israeli lawmakers tackle police brutality
Supporters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party react to exit polls in Israel's parliamentary election at the party headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Sept. 17, 2019.  One sign says "Trump 2020" as well.

Anxiety and fear run high as Israel votes

As Israel's voters head to the polls, most expressed anxiety over the outcome of the election.

Anxiety and fear run high as Israel votes
A man is shown wearing a salmon-colored collard shirt and sunglasses while holding the reins of a horse.

In Israel’s election, the Arab vote could be pivotal

A few days before a national election in Israel, there wasn’t a campaign poster in sight at a horse show in a rural area just outside of Nazareth.

In Israel’s election, the Arab vote could be pivotal
A supporter of the Israeli Likud party kisses an election campaign poster depicting Israel Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the market in Jerusalem.

For many Israelis, this election is all about Bibi

Benjamin Netanyahu has served as Israel's prime minister for a decade. He has plenty of detractors. But even for them, this national election is all about him.

For many Israelis, this election is all about Bibi
church

Megachurches, home churches, podcasts: American evangelicals are ‘not a monolith’

As the 2020 presidential campaign heats up, evangelical Christians will be getting more and more attention in the news media. They always do during election season. But people who identify as evangelical or born-again Christians are more than just a voting bloc. Evangelicals make up a huge swath of the US population.

Megachurches, home churches, podcasts: American evangelicals are ‘not a monolith’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center), Cabinet Secretary Tzachi Braverman (right) and Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz (left), attend the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on July 7, 2019.

With the Iran deal falling apart, Israel faces new worries

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been a fierce critic of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. But now that the deal appears to be collapsing, Israel isn’t exactly celebrating.

With the Iran deal falling apart, Israel faces new worries
A police officer is shown with a helmet and clear face mask down, striking a person with an umbrella with his batton.

In Hong Kong, anger and frustration toward China aren't new

Demonstrators in Hong Kong are calling for the repeal of a controversial new extradition bill with China. But that's just the last straw for many Hongkongers, whose resentment toward mainland China has been building for some time.

In Hong Kong, anger and frustration toward China aren't new
“Tear down the walls of ignorance and narrow-mindedness,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel told graduates at the 368th commencement ceremony at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, May 30, 2019.

From 'mein Mädchen' to 'leader of the free world,' Angela Merkel is winding down her political career

Since the election of Donald Trump, Germany's leader Angela Merkel has been seen as an important global voice for Western liberal values. Her legacy is mixed, and it's unclear who will fill her shoes on the global political stage.

From 'mein Mädchen' to 'leader of the free world,' Angela Merkel is winding down her political career
An anti-abortion marcher carries a picture of Jesus Christ during a rally at the Supreme Court during the 46th annual “March for Life” in Washington, D.C. on January 18, 2019.

When does life begin? It might depend on your faith.

Many abortion opponents find conviction in their religious faith. But what do different faiths say about when life really begins?

When does life begin? It might depend on your faith.
White House senior advisor Jared Kushner smiles while listening to US President Donald Trump talk as the president meets with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 25, 2019.

Jared Kushner's peace plan that nobody loves

Jared Kushner has been working on a peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians — a "deal of the century" is how President Donald Trump has referred to it. Almost no one is impressed. And it's not clear if the plan will even see the light of day.

Jared Kushner's peace plan that nobody loves
The Satanic Temple

The Satanic Temple gets religion

From trolling the religious right to being recognized by the IRS as a real religion, the Satanic Temple is on the rise. And with growth comes a new challenge.

The Satanic Temple gets religion