c. 1996 Religion News Service

WASHINGTON _ Longtime Washington religion correspondent David E. Anderson will become editor of Religion News Service on Jan. 1, RNS Editor Joan Connell announced today.”Dave Anderson has the soul of a newsman, the mind of a theologian and a well-earned reputation as a journalist of integrity, intelligence and depth. I can think of no one more qualified to carry on the tradition of excellence that has characterized Religion News Service for more than 60 years,”said Connell.”I look forward to the challenge of continuing to make Religion News Service an essential tool for all those interested in comprehensive coverage of religion, ethics and moral issues,”Anderson said.”We have a staff of dedicated experts in all areas of religion and spiritual life who have put RNS at the cutting edge of religion journalism. I am confident that we will continue to provide our diverse clientele with the news and information they need and want.” Anderson, 55, a native of Minneapolis, has been RNS’ Washington correspondent since 1992. He spent 24 years as a Washington correspondent for United Press International, covering virtually all aspects of the federal government and national politics, reporting on the civil rights and antiwar movements of the 1960s and 1970s, and the struggle over legal abortion in the 1980s and 1990s. He became UPI’s religion editor in 1974, succeeding Louis M. Cassels, who was one of the first journalists to report religion as a news beat.

Connell, 49, is moving to Seattle to join her husband, Dean Wright, a producer at MSNBC On the Internet. She will remain senior editor at RNS and write regular pieces, as well as pursue other projects in journalism and new media.

Religion News Service was established in 1934 by the National Conference of Christians and Jews as a bias-free source of news about belief. In 1983, it was purchased by the United Methodist Reporter, the communications arm of the United Methodist Church. In 1994, it was purchased by Newhouse News Service, which moved RNS from New York to Washington and expanded its focus to include coverage of ethics, spirituality and moral issues.

RNS currently serves more than 100 daily newspapers, broadcast organizations such as ABC World News Tonight and National Public Radio, and more than 200 religious publications and organizations.

MJP END RNS