The basics

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The who, what and why of religion coverage:

Ask people why they read, listen to or watch the news. They’ll probably mention sports, politics, crime, schools, business and lifestyle features. Religion almost never makes the top of the list, but belief and spirituality are powerful undertows in so many stories. Too often, the religion angle remains invisible to media audiences because journalists don’t acknowledge its persistent pull. Life is full of tales of good versus evil, struggle amid hardship, transformation, reconciliation, forgiveness, success against the odds, grief, community and family—all themes highlighted by religious traditions.

What is religion news?

Religion news is any story in which religion, faith, spirituality, beliefs, values or ethics play a significant role. Any topic and any type of story can be religion news:

  • Breaking news, investigative reporting, trend stories, features, profiles and analysis.
  • International, national and local news, politics, sports, business, education, crime, arts and entertainment, science, health, lifestyles, fashion, travel, food and more.
  • Stories about one religion, several religions or interactions among them; stories about institutional religion (individual houses of worship, denominations or entire religions); stories about religion or spirituality that take place outside institutional walls and stories about non-believers of all types.
  • Beyond news, religion is a frequent topic of opinion columns, commentary, editorials and blogs.