FAQ | ReligionWriters

FAQ

“Frequently Asked Questions” on the Religion Beat

1. Why should the secular media cover religion?

2. What do religion writers do? How do I get started on the beat?

3. Do editors care about religion coverage?

4. Do editors only want controversial religion stories?

5. What type of training might a religion reporter need?

6. When do you reveal your religion to sources?

7. What are the laws regarding how churches and religious institutions comply with government guidelines?

8. How do I find an expert on a particular religion or theological issue?

9. When is it appropriate to use the words “fundamentalist” and “cult?” What are other terms with which I must be careful?

10. How can I interview and write about religions I don’t believe in?

11. What may houses of worship do to advance political causes or candidates?

12. What are some helpful hints on covering highly charged religious services, especially ones that seem to defy rational explanation?

13. Do religion reporters face issues of balance and fairness that are different from other beats?

14. How do religion writers cope with organizational, stylistic and cultural differences in the people they write about?

15. What special issues and concerns do religion writers keep in mind when writing about the religions of ethnic minorities?

16. It seems religion writers deal more in theory than fact. How does a good reporter write an accurate story when people’s understanding of truth differs?

17. What role should religious demographics play and what are the best sources for such demographics?

18. Which resources are essential for a religion writer to own?

19. Many religion reporters also write about spiritual movements and ethical concerns. What sorts of stories like that should a religion writer do?

20. Do religion writers always write stories for religious holidays? New clergy? Anniversaries?

21. How can a religion writer get more religion news stories into the paper or on air?

22. Does RNA provide internships?

23. Does RNA provide free training to assist with religion writing?

24. What training opportunities are available for a fee?

25. Does RNA offer scholarships?

26. What other religion reporting scholarships are available?

27. Do you have a discounted membership rate for students?

28. How many RNA members are there?

29. How many people are currently employed in the field of religion reporting in the secular US media? What’s the outlook for the future?

30. What are the salary ranges in the field?

31. What qualifications are necessary for employment in the field of religion reporting?

32. How do people get started as religion writers, either for print or for magazines? Do you start as a general assignment reporter? What job opportunities are there?

33. How do I develop clips to submit?

34. How feasible is it to support oneself as a freelance religious writer – either by submitting articles to magazines targeted to particular faith communities or working for a newspaper on a freelance basis?

35. What organizations help with funding for religion-specific media?

36. Is there information on religion reporting and religion resources, such as books?

37. What do you think about the overall quality of religion coverage in mainstream print journalism?

38. Does religion news get “ghettoized” when it’s published once a week in a special section? Does religion news need to be more integrated into other sections?

39. What are some tips for/advice on/characteristics of good religion reporting?

40. I have more questions that are not answered here, what do I do? Contact us at rna.org.

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