Religion Journalists' Perceptions of Religion News and Its Audience

A study surveyed newspapers that print religious news to determine the kinds of coverage their religion journalists provide and to determine the type of audience for which they write. Mail surveys were completed by 141 daily newspapers with circulations ranging from under 10,000 to over 100,000. All but 13 respondents provided a working definition of the kinds of stories considered religion news. The most common description emphasized religious organizations as sources of news or as the institutions most affected by the news. Approximately one-fourth of respondents said that there are few appropriate stories available to them, but 83% indicated that they try to provide a particular mixture of stories. The preferred mixtures emphasized religious, content, and geographic diversity as well as a varied writing style (news and features). Respondents also preferred stories appealing to all readers rather than to just one particular group. Data indicated that little has changed in religion news coverage--the emphasis remains on local people, congregations, and events. Results also suggested that larger papers were more likely to provide stories about issues, trends, and doctrine, and to review movies, books, music, and art shows with religious themes. Both the larger and the smaller newspapers recognized that people read religion news as a leisure-time activity and also as part of an attempt to understand the world. (AEW)