2025 RNA Conference

April 3-5, 2025 at the Hilton Arlington National Landing in Arlington, VA

Thursday, April 3

Conference Registration + Breakfast

The Do's, Don'ts, and Dangers of AI

  • Moderator: Alexandria Faiz

  • Kyle Plantz

  • Napp Nazworth

  • Fr. Ambrose Little

Religion Reporting in Small Markets

  • Moderator: Bobby Ross Jr.

  • Frank Lockwood

  • Tracy Simmons

  • Laura Harbert Allen

  • Abriana Herron

Lunch + Panel: National Survey of Religious Leaders - Sponsored by the National Survey of Religious Leaders

  • Mark Chaves

Audio Journalism and Religion Storytelling

Audio is a unique, intimate medium that allows for deeply personal and immersive storytelling. So how can we use audio to tell important and necessary stories about religion and from within religious communities? Join us for an interactive session where we’ll listen to a few pieces of audio journalism and talk together about what we hear and what we learn from it.

  • Sarah Ventre

America’s Changing Religious Landscape - Sponsored by Pew Research Center

Greg Smith will share insights from Pew Research Center’s new Religious Landscape Study, a massive survey of almost 37,000 Americans – enough to paint a statistical portrait of religion and spirituality not only nationally, but also in all 50 U.S. states, as well as in 34 of the largest U.S. cities. While the study’s primary goal is to understand changes in America’s religious landscape, it provides an in-depth look at the role of religion in many aspects of American life, including family, race and ethnicity, politics, gender and sexuality, immigration, diversity, science and the environment.

  • Gregory A. Smith

To Welcome the Stranger: Migration and Religious Activism

Congregations and faith-based groups who believe they have a religious imperative to aid migrants have found that their work has become a lot more challenging in recent months. President Trump issued an executive order suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, and also rescinded a policy that had designated houses of worship as “sensitive locations.” This has had a chilling effect on many churches, and some have even sued the government in response. Now, churches and faith-based organizations are grappling with how to protect their congregations and do the work they feel called to, as it becomes increasingly risky.

  • Moderator: Sarah Ventre

  • Ruth Flower

  • William Canny

  • Mark Hetfield

  • Marco A. Grimaldo

There IS a Faithful Majority for Abortion! - Sponsored by the Faithful Majority for Reproductive Freedom

RNA reporters know that there is virtually no issue where people of faith are of one mind. Reproductive rights and healthcare are certainly no exception. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, we’ve been working to bring pro-choice people of faith out of the shadows to proclaim their religious values in support of abortion access. With a renewed focus on the work that lies ahead, we’re ready to introduce our coalition to you.

Welcome Reception and Dinner

Friday, April 4

Breakfast and Network Exhibitors - Sponsored by Freedom from Religion Foundation, Council on Foreign Relations, Sojourners, and Columbia University

Silver Linings: It's a Tough Job. How to Find Your Fun. - Sponsored by RNS/Associated Press/The Conversation

  • Moderator: Molly Jackson

  • David Crary

  • Kalpana Jain

  • Maria Teresa Hernandez

  • Kathryn Post

Who’s NOT at the Table?

  • Moderator: Heather Greene

  • Ivo Domínguez, Jr.

  • Wendy Mata

  • Irene Glasse

It's Raining Men's Issues

By many measures, men aren't doing well. Our panelists will explore how the "manosphere" -- podcasts, blogs and social media promoting masculinity and often opposing feminism -- is influencing our political and religious discourse. How are clergy part of the manosphere and also competing with its influencers? Why are some men turning to so-called traditional religion and Christian nationalism? And how can journalists better report on these phenomena?

  • Moderator: Meagan Saliashvili

  • Hannah Gais

  • Aaron M. Renn

  • Rev. Harold Dean Trulear

Religious and Secular Opposition to Assisted Suicide - Sponsored by EWTN News

For the last three years, no new U.S. states have approved physician-assisted suicide, while Canada's implementation of Medical Assistance in Dying has been generating increasing controversy.  What are the main religious and secular drivers of opposition to this practice? Join EWTN News President Montse Alvarado, Patients Rights Action Fund Executive Director Matt Vallière and Inclusion Canada CEO Krista Carr as they discuss the state of play of broad-based ethical opposition to assisted suicide.

  • Krista Carr

  • Montse Alvarado

  • Matt Vallière

Religious Teachings in Schools

  • Moderator: Simran Jeet Singh

  • Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons

  • Harmeet Kaur Kamboj

  • Jaweed Kaleem

Sound Bath

A sound bath can be an improvised and participational concert, a piece of performance art, and/or a meditative experience. Join us as we are washed in sound using vibrational instruments like singing bowls. At a time when the news cycle feels like drinking from a fire hose, this is a moment for us to be in solidarity, reflection, and stillness together. (Participants will be asked to remain quiet and with their phones off for this session. Participants may also be encouraged to sit or lie on the ground, so we recommend coming in comfortable clothes and to be ready to let go.)

RNS/IA Religion Journalism Fellowship: Networking Event

Celebrate and network with the 2024 RNS/IA Religion Journalism Fellows cohort! There will be a delicious variety of hot canapes, an open bar, and thoughtful conversations about the future of religion reporting.

Run by Interfaith America in partnership with Religion News Service, the Fellowship program is in its third year. It aims to equip upcoming religion reporters with the tools and resources to cover stories from diverse faith communities. The networking event allows you to share your expertise, wisdom, and insights with our Fellows and learn more about our program and how to get involved.

Saturday, April 5

Breakfast

How to Avoid a Lawsuit

Sexual abuse lawsuits, subpoenas to reporters, changes in recording laws and a growing aggressiveness on the part of some religious movements to blame the media for their bad press is making religion reporting an increasingly hazardous beat on the legal front. Two attorneys and one defendant (himself a former journalist) in a religious lawsuit will talk about how to avoid getting sued.

  • Moderator: Julia Duin

  • Renee Griffin

  • Sara Tesoriero

  • David Johnson

FOIA and Public Records Requests: Tips for Religion Journalists (Presented by Investigative Reporters and Editors)

  • Moderator: Deepa Bharath

  • James V. Grimaldi

  • Silvia Foster-Frau

  • Joshua Eaton

Lunch + Screening of "The Face of Jesus," sponsored by Sonovision Films

RNA Members Meeting

Celebration and Awards Banquet - Sponsored by Religion News Foundation