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Religion News Association

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The Religion News Association (RNA), formerly the Religion Newswriters Association, is an American non-profit professional association which seeks to promote better reporting on religion in the news media and to provide help and support to journalists who cover religion.[1][2]

History

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The RNA was founded in 1949 and in 2007 had 570 members and subscribers.[3][4][needs update] Membership in the RNA is open to journalists who regularly report on religion in the secular print and broadcast media.[5][6] Since 2006, the RNA has been associated with the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.[7] In 2016, RNA members approved a proposal to change the name from the "Religion Newswriters Association" to the current name.[8]

RNA awards scholarships for full-time journalists who wish to take college courses on religion,[9] gives awards and scholarships to college journalists,[10] sponsors seminars and conferences [11][12] and publishes a "primer" for religion reporters[13] and an online style guide,[14] as well as other resources for journalists. RNA is funded by membership dues, donations, and Religion News Foundation support.[15]

In 1999, former RNA executive director Debra Mason said in an interview that the topic of religion is very complex and requires extensive research, something which newspaper editors don't always appreciate.[16] In 2005, Steve Buttry writing at Poynter Online said, "The Religion Newswriters Association does a tremendous job helping reporters learn the beat."[17] RNA was cited by Kenneth G. C. Newport and Crawford Gribben in their 2006 book Expecting the End: Millennialism in Social and Historical Context for helping reporters get in touch with credentialed scholars on religion, leading to better public understanding of religious issues.[18]

Since the 1970s, RNA has published an annual list of the top ten religion-related news stories of the previous year.[19][20] In 1999, RNA was criticized by the Islamic organization the Wisdom Fund for listing a story on a special "Top 10 Stories of The Millennium" list which gave inaccurate information on the history of Islam in India.[21] In the same year, RNA also published a list of the top ten religious news stories of the Twentieth century, with the Holocaust being the most important event.[22]

In 2006, representatives from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Church of Scientology spoke to the annual RNA conference and discussed issues concerning their respective faiths.[23]

References

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  1. ^ Religion Newswriters Association Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine National Society of Professional Journalists, JournalismTraining.org. Accessed September 6, 2008
  2. ^ Religion News Becoming Obsolete The Ledger, August 9, 2008
  3. ^ Dolbee, Gorski honored by Religion Newswriters Association North County Times, October 4, 2007
  4. ^ Religion News in Brief ABC News Accessed September 6, 2008
  5. ^ Religion Newswriters Association Council of National Journalism Organizations Accessed September 8, 2008
  6. ^ NPR NEWS’ RACHEL MARTIN WINS RELIGION NEWSWRITERS ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR REPORT ON LATINO EXODUS FROM CATHOLICISM TO ISLAM National Public Radio October 3, 2007
  7. ^ Debra Mason Named Director of Center for Religion, the Professions and the Public Missouri School of Journalism, September 8, 2006
  8. ^ "RNA members vote to change organization's name to Religion News Association - Religion News Association & Foundation". www.rna.org. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  9. ^ Religion Newswriters Association Scholarship Archived 2011-06-11 at the Wayback Machine Asian American Journalists Association, Accessed September 6, 2008
  10. ^ Ross Todd Named Finalist in Religion Newswriters Association National Contest Missouri School of Journalism, Accessed September 6, 2008
  11. ^ Religion and Politics The Media's One-Dimensional View Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting July/August 1994
  12. ^ "RNA Seminars and Workshops". Archived from the original on 2008-09-18. Retrieved 2008-09-09.
  13. ^ ""Reporting on Religion: A Primer on Journalism's Best Beat"". Archived from the original on 2010-08-10. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
  14. ^ "ReligionStylebook". Archived from the original on 2010-07-27. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
  15. ^ "Religion News Service, AP and The Conversation launch global religion journalism initiative". Associated Press. 2019-04-24. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  16. ^ The Local News Handbook Archived 2006-05-28 at the Wayback Machine 1999, The American Society of Newspaper Editors
  17. ^ Help Wanted on Religion Beat: Don't Limit the Talent Pool Steve Buttry, Poynter Online, January 11, 2005
  18. ^ Expecting the End: Millennialism in Social and Historical Context, Kenneth G. C. Newport, Crawford Gribben, Baylor University Press, 2006, ISBN 1-932792-38-4, ISBN 978-1-932792-38-6
  19. ^ 2004 - Year in Review ABC News Accessed September 8, 2008
  20. ^ Buddhist monks’ revolt among top news storiesAnglican Journal February 1, 2008
  21. ^ Religion Newswriters Association Bashes Islam The Wisdom Fund, December 6, 1999
  22. ^ The century -- death by "quasi-religion" Archived 2002-08-22 at archive.today Terri Mattingly, On Religion
  23. ^ Faiths 'that don't fit' educate journalists Deseret News September 10, 2006
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