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Disciplines
• Journalism
• Magazine Journalism
• Newspaper Journalism
• Photojournalism
• Radio Journalism
• Convergence Journalism
Tips
for local coverage
Coverage:
Religion coverage tends to be downplayed
in mainstream media, both in terms of front
page or top-of-newscast appeal as well the
percentage of content. Still, current events
have revealed that religion plays a key
role in many stories considered non-religious,
such as the war on terror and politics.
Journalists are learning that religion can
be covered in a more "wholistic"
way by identifying religion as a key factor
in a news story, and that it does not have
to be restricted to the topic of religion.
Religion brings with it a complex set of values
and behaviors that affects the way the news
can be viewed. It is worthwhile to see how
religion can be used on the front page to
help add background and depth to stories,
or to tell them in new ways. Other research
ideas could examine the impact of citizen
media tools such as blogging and "citizen
journalism" on these areas of media coverage
that are sometimes seen as lacking by the
readership/viewership public.
Workplace diversity:
Studies sampling media workplaces have found
that the makeup of American newsrooms differs
greatly from that of the public in terms
of religious affiliation and practice. Many
newsrooms - even in markets that lean heavily
toward one or two faiths - are made up of
journalists who report adhering to faiths
that do not match their community or to
a lack of religious faith. Given the push
in newsrooms toward more diversity since
the late 1980s, it is worth studying the
differences in coverage in religion topics
when a community's faith makeup matches
that of its local news product in comparison
to one that does not match its newsroom's
faith makeup. Critics might argue that the
objective standard in journalism would preclude
a journalist who is either of another faith
or an atheist from covering a religious
topic, due to concerns of bias, but the
push for more racial and ideological diversity
in newsrooms clearly shows that newsrooms
already believe that diversifying newsrooms
leads to stronger coverage.
Ethics: Many
religions value truth-telling in the highest
regard, and that is compatible with journalism
as a craft. But what of conflicts where
religious duty clashes with newsroom values?
The newsroom is a team atmosphere and team
players are rewarded with promotions and
better beats, and so what happens if a journalist
has an ethical objection to newsroom standards?
In essence, do newsroom standards supercede
a person's personal ethics in an environment
where people often agree on the rules that
govern journalism and are expected to adhere
to them? Research might also look at how
to craft a personal ethic and work by that
in an era in which competition and conglomerate
culture is increasingly homogenizing the
way in which newsrooms clarify their values.
History: Some would
argue that religion created the information
revolution. Aided by the 16th-century printing
press, the desire to have and to understand
the record of religious thought and theology
helped create what is now a mass market
for information. Author Doug Underwood suggests
in his book, "From Yahweh to Yahoo!,"
that religion has long been a silent partner
to journalism, through "religious impulses"
at work in a typical newsroom. He makes
the case that American journalists are rooted
in the nation's moral and religious heritage,
such as believing they are serving a cause
higher than commercial goals, protesting
moral corruption, advocating social justice
and calling for reform.
Since the invention of
print, religious leaders and dissidents
have long used the method to share their
views and challenge others. Among the first
to adopt the technology of radio in the
1920s were Christian broadcasters, who sent
sermons and hymns to the masses - later
following with television and the Internet.
There are opportunities to work in journalism
today covering religion in both secular
and religious contexts. The introduction
of convergence journalism aso offers new
ways to communicate religious experience.
Current Issues:
Religion is playing a key role in many of
today's news-making events. Understanding
Islam, for example, is critical for the
reporter attempting to do international
coverage of the war on terror as well as
coverage of home-front issues. Politics
is another area where religion often mixes
freely with the people involved, and a depth
of understanding of the values and beliefs
guiding those in power is a critical tool
for providing good coverage. Research also
might look at readership in terms of self-reported
religious faith and examine how patterns
of coverage might be altered in a way that
serves that audience better.
The Center on Religion
& the Professions is working on projects
to improve the religious literacy of reporters
by strengthening journalistic coverage of
religion in the United States, as well as
planning significant
research about how the public views
religion news coverage.
Journal
of Media & Religion
Religion
& American Culture
First
Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion &
Public Life
Journal
of Contemporary Religion
Journal
of Religion & Society
Studia
Islamica
Journal
of Religion and Communication
American
Academy of Religion Syllabi Search
Religion
and Media
Dr. Sean McCloud
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
Religion
News Media and American Culture
Warren G. Frisina
Hofstra University
Religion
and the Media
University of Georgia
Religious
Fundamentalisms, Politics and Media in America
David Domke
University of Washington
American Jewish Press Association
Associated Church Press
Catholic Writers Online
Christian Academics
Christian Writers’ Group
Christians in Photojournalism
Evangelical Press Association
Faith & Values Media
Gegrapha - Fellowship of Christian Journalists
Islamic Media Foundation
Media Fellowship International
Muslim American Journalists Association
Professional Association for Christian Writers
Religion Newswriters Association
Religious Communication Association
Religion Communicators Council
Women in Christian Media
World Association for Christian Communication
World Journalism Institute
• Also see listing for Business
• See a full list of professional associations and resources here.
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