Giulia Evolvi is a scholar of religion and digital media whose work focuses on online discourse, religion in Europe and social media. She examines how religion is communicated, contested and reshaped in digital environments.

Fiona Murphy is a New York-based multimedia journalist and national reporter at Religion News Service. Murphy covers local stories as well as national trends, with a focus on how faith intersects with digital life, identity, and community. In addition to reporting, she produces videos and photography for RNS’s website and social media platforms.

Ben Haupt is a technologist and Christian thinker who co-hosts the Bitcoin Reformation Podcast, where he discusses cryptocurrency, theology and digital culture. His work engages questions of faith, fundraising, leadership and decentralization.

In this guide, we provide background, tips and suggestions, newswriting for context and experts and sources for you to turn to as you ramp up your coverage of religion and the 2026 midterms.

Yasmin Moll is ama cultural anthropologist of the Middle East and North Africa at the University of Michigan. Her research spans the intersections of religion, media, youth and politics as well as questions of race, indigeneity and heritage activism in the region.

Tanita Tualla Maddox is a speaker and author specializing in the intersection of Gen Z culture and Christian faith, focusing on the generation’s specific questions regarding spirituality and mental health.

Jessica Eastwood is a philosopher who researches why esoteric practices like astrology are resonating with Gen Z as tools for self-discovery and meaning-making.

Jean Twenge is a psycholigist and professor at San Diego Stat University widely recognized for her research on generational differences, cultural trends and the impact of technology and social media on youth mental health.

Springtide Research Institute is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that studies the lives, beliefs, and identities of young people ages 13 to 25. Through surveys and interviews, the institute explores how youth navigate mental health, spirituality and society, providing data to educators, faith leaders and organizations.