Religion communicators are to consider April 9-11 in Washington how faith influences news and public debate – both locally and globally.

Registration is now open for the 86th annual Religion Communicators Council National Convention. Theme for the meeting, with sessions at The Newseum in Washington and The Westin Alexandria in Alexandria, Virginia, is “Faith-Based Communications: Connecting Locally, Reaching Globally.”

Stephen Prothero, professor of religion at Boston University, and Charles Haynes, director of the Religious Freedom Center Education Project at the Newseum, are to deliver the April 9 keynote address at the Newseum. The two are to discuss how bias affects messages about faith and the need to be aware of local and global religious trends when communicating to diverse audiences.

Shaun Casey, special representative to the secretary of state for faith-based and community initiatives, will address the convention April 11 in Alexandria. His topic is the role of religion in international affairs.

Karin Achtelstetter, general secretary of World Association for Christian Communications, is to consider faith responses to local and global needs. Her luncheon address is scheduled for April 11 in Alexandria.

An April 10 panel of secular reporters, moderated by Adelle Banks of Religion News Service, is to discuss religion’s influence on today’s news. Members of the panel in Alexandria are:

• Michelle Boorstein, religion reporter for The Washington Post.
• Eric Marrapodi, senior Washington producer and contributing editor to CNN’s Belief Blog.
• Wajahat Ali, co-host of Al Jazeera America’s “The Stream.”

Workshop opportunities include: using video and photography to amp up your product, design for effective communications, and getting your social media content seen. See the RCC2015 brochure (PDF) for more information.

The three-day convention schedule includes presentation ceremonies in Alexandria for the 2015 Wilbur Awards and DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards.

The council has presented Wilbur Awards annually since 1949. They honor excellence by individuals in secular media – print and online journalism, book publishing, broadcasting, and motion pictures – in communicating religious issues, values and themes.

DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards have been given annually since 1967 to active council members who demonstrate excellence in religious communications and public relations.

Other events in Alexandria include 12 skill-building continuing-education workshops for council members. Workshop topics include how to use photography and video to improve communication, how to work with secular journalists covering religion stories, and how to plan communication programs more effectively.

Registration deadline is April 1. Registration fee is $395 per person. Registration information is available online.

About the Religion Communicators Council

The Religion Communicators Council is an interfaith association of more than 400 religion communicators working in print and electronic communication, advertising, and public relations. Members represent Bahá’í, Christian, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim faith communities. Founded in 1929, the council is the oldest public relations professional association in the United States.