Questions of Objectivity in Religion Journalism

This panel will consider what objectivity looks like in religion reporting. How can reporters cover sensitive issues that may challenge their core beliefs? Questions about biases and balance will also be addressed. While many media outlets claim to provide balanced coverage, an unquestioning pursuit of balance can be counterproductive to truth telling. The unbiased position of news reporters will be challenged and the importance of a point of view in reporting will be explored.

Covering Religion in the Digital Age

This panel will explore some innovative news projects in faith journalism that utilize social media and new technologies in reporting.

Alternative Media Reporting on Faith

This panel will consider how citizen journalism projects and faith-­‐supported publications report on religion. What sort of approach do non-traditional journalists take on stories that affect their own community? What responsibilities do citizen journalists have to ethical considerations when reporting on faith? And how important are these alternative and citizen-­‐led media projects to democracy?

Minority Issues Versus Majority Issues

This panel will explore how journalists can balance coverage of minority group concerns with majority group issues. We’ll look at when and why coverage of issues becomes disproportionate to their real importance. We’ll ask if media coverage should be proportionate to population size in a given country. Finally, we’ll explore the dangers of giving more airtime to one particular group over another.

Workshop for Students: Unpacking a Religion News Story

This panel will examine the protected status of religion under Australian law that allows faith-­‐based organizations to discriminate against certain groups of people when providing services. What are the important angles of the story that have been explored? And how would you as a journalist report on this story?

Workshop for Faith Representatives: Making a Story into News

What exactly makes a religious event or controversy newsworthy? This workshop will go through the steps faith communities should take to pitch a story and get noticed by mainstream media outlets.

Public Event: Religion as a Weapon of War or Peace?

This panel will address the assumption that conflicts are about secular political issues and not deep cultural or religious differences. We’ll ask whether religion is being used as a weapon in conflicts today, particularly in the Middle East and Africa. Finally, we'll ask what journalists are missing by glossing over the religious stakes and players in global conflicts.