This guide is designed to help reporters uncover fresh, compelling and nuanced religion stories in advance of the United States Semiquincentennial celebrations in July 2026.

The National Museum of American Religion (NMAR) is a private, non-profit, digital-first museum dedicated to highlighting the role religion has played in shaping the social, political, economic and cultural fabric of American life.

Mai Soto is Director of the Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research at the University of London. Soto’s research focuses on the integrity of global justice systems, with particular emphasis on the death penalty and the legitimacy of courts and police. In July 2024, the UN Human Rights Council appointed Mai as the fourth […]

Ray Takeyh is Hasib J. Sabbagh senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). His areas of specialization are Iran, U.S. foreign policy and the modern Middle East. Prior to joining CFR, he served as senior advisor on Iran at the State Department and was a fellow at Yale University, […]

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan commission created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) that monitors religious freedom violations abroad and makes policy recommendations to the U.S. federal government.

This guide offers reporters the tools to navigate the topic of religious persecution at home and abroad, offering background, resources, tips, suggestions and expert sources for your next story.

Lindsay Rodriguez is Director of Development & Advocacy at Coptic Solidarity.

Wai Wai Nu, is a human rights advocate and former political prisoner from Myanmar who founded the Women’s Peace Network.

Teresa Flores is a Peruvian lawyer and director of the Observatory of Religious Freedom in Latin America (OLIRE), based in the Netherlands.