The Religion News Association (RNA), formerly the Religion Newswriters Association, is an American
non-profitprofessional 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
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]
^Expecting the End: Millennialism in Social and Historical Context, Kenneth G. C. Newport, Crawford Gribben, Baylor University Press, 2006,
ISBN1-932792-38-4,
ISBN978-1-932792-38-6