Thursday, April 23

Conference Registration

Faith and Midterm Politics in Battleground Georgia

Georgia is a critical state for a critical moment in U.S. politics. Faith leaders, journalists and academics walked us through the most pressing issues that congregations are engaging, including immigration, voting rights, and polarization. Their insight offered a national template for reporting on the role of religion in the upcoming midterm elections.

• Moderator: Liam Adams

• Speakers:

  • Greg Bluestein

  • Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant

  • Andra Gillespie

  • Tiffany Green-Abdullah

Ethics & AI

Journalists are not only confronting AI in their own workplaces but are also increasingly being called upon to explore issues on the ethics of AI in multiple arenas. As AI becomes more embedded in everyday life, it is prompting not only practical concerns about data and ethics, but also deeper questions about human agency, identity and purpose. Expert panelists who are researching, writing and teaching on these issues shared their perspectives and findings on prominent AI and ethics challenges, including how journalists can help audiences better understand and deal with the reality of AI.

• Moderator: Krysta Fauria

• Speakers:

  • Dr. Tyler Cook

  • Professor Jonathan K. Crane, Rabbi, PhD

  • Dr. Nabile Safdar

Lunch (Sponsored by Pew Research Center)

What’s really happening with religion in America today? Amid ongoing public discussion about religion’s changing role in American life, Pew Research Center’s Director of Religion Research shared the latest data about Americans’ religious and spiritual engagement and offered insights into how current trends could shape the future of faith in the U.S.

• Speaker: Alan Cooperman

Break / Free Time

Faith on the Frontlines of Health Policy

Grounded in developments in Atlanta and the broader South, this panel examined how faith communities, religious institutions, and faith-based health systems are shaping, and responding to, health policy debates around vaccines, reproductive care, Medicaid, and public health authority. Panelists discussed where religion is exerting real influence on policy and practice, how political shifts under a new Trump administration are changing the landscape, and what journalists should be watching as health policy disputes increasingly intersect with faith, ethics, and access to care.

• Moderator: Richa Karmarkar

• Speakers:

  • Dean M. Daniele Fallin

  • Ariel Hart

  • Dr. Ellen Idler

  • Senator Kim Jackson

Coffee Break (Optional Freelancers Meet-Up)

Covering Immigration: Lessons from the Frontlines of the Deportation Battle (Sponsored by The Conversation U.S., Religion News Service, and The Associated Press)

Journalists and experts with The Associated Press, Religion News Service and The Conversation shared their experiences reporting on immigration in the U.S. during the federal government crackdown. The panelists explored topics ranging from anonymous sourcing considerations, language barriers, protest coverage and the historical context of policy changes and migration.

• Moderator: David Crary

• Speakers:

  • Giovanna Dell'Orto

  • Aleja Hertzler-McCain

  • Jack Jenkins

  • Ramazan Kılınç

Digging Deeper: Reporting Tools for Accountability Journalism

This skills-focused workshop offered practical reporting tools journalists can use across beats. Joshua Eaton covered public records strategies, FOIA requests, and investigative techniques for uncovering information and navigating resistance from institutions, providing a hands-on toolkit for stronger, more informed journalism.

• Speaker: Joshua Eaton

Welcome Reception

Friday, April 24

Registration and Network Exhibitors Breakfast - Sponsored by Coalition of Hindus of North America, Knight Foundation, and SciLine

Religion, Protest, and the Press: Covering Racial Justice Across Generations

Congregations in Atlanta were epicenters of the Civil Rights Movement and remain deeply involved in racial justice today. What has changed in how the press covers faith-led activism? This panel dove into past coverage, current challenges, and the responsibility of reporters navigating protest, power, and public faith.

• Moderator: Adelle Banks

• Speakers:

  • Rev. Dwight Andrews

  • Don Bender

  • Rabbi Peter Berg

  • Mary C. Curtis

  • Rev. Dr. Robert M. Franklin

  • Dr. Kevin R. Murriel

The Religion of Futbol/Soccer

Around the world, futbol/football/soccer fans follow their favorite teams (professional club and national) with a passion that rivals the most fevered religious believers. The high holy days of the men's game, the men's World Cup, is coming to North America (U.S./Mexico/Canada) in June-July. The panel examined this behavior, how this manifests itself, its sound and sight displays, and its occasional extremes.

• Moderator: Dave Schechter

• Speakers:

  • Dr. Kirk Bowman

  • Luis Andres Henao

  • Professor Vicki Michaelis

Lunch (Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

Attendees enjoyed a meal while hearing a presentation about the Mormon Tabernacle Choir from representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Break / Free Time

Optional - Emerging Journalists Cohort meeting

Members of the Emerging Journalists Cohort, and anyone interested in learning more about the program, were invited to join the Cohort gathering during the Break / Free Time on Friday, April 24, to connect with fellow early-career religion reporters, hear about current projects, and learn how the program supports the next generation of journalists covering religion.

Help! Tips on Covering News with Centuries of Critical Religious Backstory

Our panel of experts shared tips and insights into how journalists can effectively tackle complex religion stories with deep historical and cultural roots. The discussion covered how to navigate sourcing and present diverse perspectives on sensitive issues that often deeply divide communities. 

• Moderator: Deepa Bharath

• Speakers:

  • Mat McDermott

  • Angad Singh

  • Peter Smith

  • Dina Zingaro

Coffee Break (Optional Freelancers Meet-Up)

Five Years Later: The Pandemic’s Impact on Congregational Life (Sponsored by Hartford Institute for Religion Research)

This session released new 5-year findings from a survey of thousands of congregations, showing how congregations have fared in terms of worship attendance, virtual participation, technology use and other key factors. Clergy attitudes and member dynamics also revealed the shape and vitality of faith communities in a post-pandemic religious landscape. Attendees joined project researchers and clergy commentators as they explored the findings and implications. The Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations project is a national study by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research examining how U.S. congregational life has changed since 2020.

• Speakers:

  • Dr. Charissa Mikoski

  • Rev. Joel Moody

  • Dr. Allison L. Norton

  • Rev. Miluska E. Silencio

  • Scott Thumma

Truth Under Siege: Conspiracies, Religion and Journalism

Conspiracy theories have gone mainstream, making their way into national headlines, politics, houses of worship and discussions over the dinner table. This panel brought together experts religion, journalism and the proliferation of conspiracies to unpack why these narratives take hold, and the impacts they have on the news we report. Panelists discussed the responsibility of religion journalists to report on conspiracy theories (or not) and the ethical challenges these conspiracies present.

• Moderator: Bob Smietana

• Speakers:

  • Dr. Felix Harcourt

  • Michael Isikoff

RNS/Interfaith America Religion Journalism Fellowship Networking Reception (Sponsored by Religion News Foundation)

Attendees celebrated and networked with the 2025-26 RNS/IA Religion Journalism Fellows cohort. There was a delicious variety of appetizers, 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 fifth year. It aims to equip upcoming religion reporters with the tools and resources to cover stories from diverse faith communities. The networking event allowed attendees to share their expertise, wisdom, and insights with the Fellows and learn more about the program and how to get involved.

Saturday, April 25

Registration and Breakfast

Yes, There Are Nonreligious State Legislators! (Sponsored by Freedom From Religion Foundation)

There are at least 100 nonreligious state legislators around the country. They are lawmakers who craft good policy while being unapologetic about their lack of belief—at the same time pushing back against the increasing strain of Christian nationalism among some of their colleagues. Attendees joined to hear how these individuals legislate as nonbelievers.

• Moderator: Amitabh Pal

• Speaker: Senator Silas Miller

Faith, Freedom, and the Globe: Religion's Role in International Coverage

War and conflicts often reshape — and sometimes erase — the religious freedoms communities depend on. From the destruction of sacred sites to the targeting of clergy and believers, conflicts create conditions where faith becomes both a refuge and a fault line. This panel examined how violations of religious freedom are documented and debated, how religion is framed or weaponized in times of war, and the critical role journalists, researchers, and civil society play in reporting accurately and ethically when the stakes are highest. 

• Moderator: David I. Klein

• Speakers:

  • Endy M. Bayuni

  • Dr. Hormoz Shariat

  • Graham West

Lunch (Sponsored by NickV Films | No Limbs, No Limits)

Attendees enjoyed a special sneak peek of the new documentary No Limbs, No Limits. The film is the powerful true story of world-renowned speaker and evangelist Nick Vujicic - a man who has defined what it means to live without limits. The film is more than a documentary; it's a testament to resilience, faith, and the unstoppable human spirit. Born without arms or legs, Nick overcame his disability to live a rich, fulfilling life and became a model for anyone seeking true happiness. No Limbs, No Limits launches in theaters September 25th. Find out more at NickVFilms.com

Break / Free Time

Optional - Mentorship Program Office Hour

Attendees joined the Mentorship Program Office Hour during Break / Free Time on Saturday, April 25, to learn how the program supports career growth, ask questions, and find out how to participate as a mentor or mentee.

RNA Member Meeting

Open to RNA Full Members only. Attendees joined the Board for an update on the state of the association, including membership, programming, finances, committee work, and other organizational developments. Attendees also had an opportunity to hear what’s ahead for RNA and ask questions.

Open Mic and Silent Auction

Attendees joined together before the banquet to bid on the annual silent auction and enjoy Open Mic performances. All purchases from the silent auction go directly to supporting RNA’s mission of supporting and uplifting the religion journalism community through scholarships, workshops, trainings, resources, and more.

Closing Banquet & Awards Ceremony (Sponsored by Religion News Foundation)

As the conference concluded, colleagues joined together for an evening of reflection and celebration. The closing dinner featured the announcement of the 2026 Excellence in Religion Reporting Award winners, honoring outstanding work from across the field. The Religion News Foundation was proud to sponsor this gathering, in recognition of the essential role religion reporters play in helping the public understand faith and its role in public life. Silent auction and raffle winners were announced at the end of the banquet.