Religion News Service marked its 90th anniversary in New York City on Sept. 10, with speakers and panels that drew clear parallels between the world of the 1930s and today and highlighted the role journalism can play in providing hope.
The day-long symposium and evening gala at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus gathered more than 150 journalists, researchers, academics, religious leaders, philanthropists, and other experts who grappled with some of the most contentious questions faced by people of faith:
- How to depolarize evangelical churches
- The religious dynamics of authoritarianism
- Ethics around artificial intelligence
- Understanding Christian nationalism
- Interfaith work in a time of fractured alliances
Here are 10 notable moments from the RNS 90th anniversary symposium and gala.
- Religion is an important story: Martin Baron, legendary editor of The Washington Post and The Boston Globe, was the featured speaker in conversation with RNS national reporter Adelle Banks during the gala dinner. Under Baron’s leadership at the Globe, the “Spotlight” team won the 2003 Pulitzer prize for public service for their coverage of sexual abuse done by Catholic clergy.
Baron said religion is an important story, despite the decline in dedicated religion reporters. “Fifty percent of the American population identifies themselves as being religious, 60 percent say they pray every day, 30 percent say they’re spiritual … I’ve never felt that the press did a very good job of covering religion for a variety of reasons. One reason is that it’s incredibly complex … It’s beneath the surface, not on the surface. Because it motivates and drives so many people and informs their behavior, I always felt it was incredibly important to cover.”
“A wonderful gathering of smart, engaged people with a passion for religion.” - 90th anniversary guest