Report finds increase in religion coverage

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A recent study from a prominent media analysis group finds that religion is getting more new coverage and more journalists are attending church — but also finds that religion reporting frequently reduces religion to politics or internal debates over church authority, the Internet news site CNSNews.com reported.

The study, conducted by the Center for Media and Public Affairs, in partnership with the Ethics and Public Policy Center, studied a random sample of more than 2,300 stories that appeared form 1968-98 in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report and the three major network newscasts.

Among CNSNews.com’s summary of the study’s findings: Overall coverage of religion doubled among establishment news outlets from 1980-90, with coverage of “nontraditional” religions such as religious cults and Eastern religions showing the sharpest increase.

However, CNSNews.com noted, the study found that only 7 percent of stories overall mentioned specific theological or spiritual beliefs, instead focusing on religious groups or churches involved in public policy debates, debates over sexual morality, women in churches, or groups advocating for changes in church hierarchy or practice.