YANGON, 26 March 2015 – A religious news media network—the first international, interreligious network of journalists from faith-based media in the world—was initiated today. The meeting was organized and hosted by KAICIID, the Vienna-based interreligious and intergovernmental organization dedicated to promote the use of dialogue to prevent and resolve conflicts as well as to enhance understanding. Journalists representing 13 media houses from 12 countries participated in a meeting at the International Press Institute’s World Congress in Yangon, Myanmar.  The meeting gathered founding supporters of the new network, and aimed to provide momentum for its establishment.

Aidan White, Head of the Ethical Journalism Network, moderated the discussion in collaboration with Debra Mason of the Religion Newswriters Foundation and Brian Pellot of Religion New Service.

“Faith-based media are often overlooked in news media gatherings,” Mike Waltner, Head of Initiatives at KAICIID, said. “This is a missed opportunity because they play a vital role in shaping the way their audiences see people of other religions and cultures. Journalists from faith-based media are also an important repository of information about their own faiths and cultures.”

During the first half of the meeting, discussions centered on outlining the need for a platform that would support interreligious and intercultural dialogue among faith-based reporters. They discussed ways to strengthen the quality of journalism in these areas and to build professional standards and collaboration among religious news media. 

Debra Mason, “For the first time, there will be a diverse international, interreligious network of religious media that can serve as invaluable resource for mutual support, as well as improve understanding.”

Participants discussed professional ethics. Some faith-based media, for example, have a mandate to promote the messages and activities of their religious institutions. But their editors and reporters are also obligated to meet standards for ethical journalism. How are these potentially competing interests reconciled?

Muslim Views Chief Editor Farid Sayed said, “Reporters from religious media need to work to establish credibility in the field of journalism, if they are to be taken seriously.”  

The group examined the lack of interaction between mainstream and faith-based media. Participants brainstormed ways that a network of faith-based media, working with journalists from mainstream media who report on religion, could bridge the divide between religious and secular media. Faith-based media can serve as a source of expertise and bridge between the worlds of religion and journalism, helping members of each field to better understand the other.

Sam Laster, editor at Die Jüdische in Austria, said, “This is a very exciting initiative. Too often we are content or too busy to get outside of our silos. This network seeks to move beyond this to encourage dialogue and engagement and to be inclusive of a diversity of views and perspectives.”     

In the afternoon, the media representatives tackled logistics and structure of the network. A steering committee of seven representatives was established which will work to define the vision, guidelines and working plans of the network. Supporters agreed to organize an event later in 2015, which will focus on faith-based journalism and the challenge of hate speech.  

Aidan White, Director of the Ethical Journalism network, added, “In our work together we have taken a major step toward supporting journalistic standards and the voice of faith-based media in ways that will enrich the journalistic landscape.”

The Religious News Media Network is an initiative of KAICIID, the Vienna-based interreligious, intergovernmental organization dedicated to promote the use of interreligious and intercultural dialogue to prevent and resolve conflicts as well as to enhance understanding. KAICIID supports the accurate representation of authentic religious voices in the news media and online, and seeks to strengthen journalism about religion and religious people in a way that supports freedom of expression and press freedoms.