c. 1996 Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS)-Thomas J. Billitteri, news editor at Religion News Service since 1994, has been promoted to managing editor, RNS Editor Joan Connell announced today.

In addition to directing the daily news operation at RNS, Billitteri will assume budget responsibilities and other managerial duties. “There is a quickening of interest in religion news and we’re proud of what RNS has accomplished since Tom Billitteri joined our staff,”Connell said.”Working together, we will continue to explore one of the most compelling issues of our time: how human beings are motivated by their beliefs.” Billitteri, 44, is former religion editor at the St. Petersburg Times. Under his direction, its weekly religion section won national recognition. He also served as managing editor of Florida Trend magazine, a nationally recognized business and public policy monthly owned by Times Publishing Co. Earlier in his career, Billitteri was a business writer and news editor at the now-defunct Dallas Times Herald. He holds a master’s degree in journalism from Indiana University.

RNS was founded in 1934 by the National Conference of Christians and Jews to be a bias-free source of news about belief. From 1983 to 1993, it was operated by the United Methodist Reporter of Dallas.

In 1994, RNS was purchased by Newhouse News Service and moved its editorial offices from New York to Washington. Since then, RNS has expanded its coverage of world religions to include ethics, spirituality and the moral dimension of public policy and popular culture.

RNS serves a potential 20 million readers in 100 daily newspapers and magazines, and more than 150 religious publications and organizations in the United States, Canada and Great Britain. Broadcast clients include National Public Radio and ABC World News Tonight.

MJP END