2026 RNA Conference
April 23-25, 2026 | Atlanta, Georgia
Please note: Schedule is not final and is subject to change.
Panel - Georgia's Faith Leaders' Role in the 2026 Midterms
Details to come.
SPEAKERS
Greg Bluestein
Rev. Jamal Bryant
Andra Gillespie
MODERATOR
Liam Adams
Break / Free Time
Free time to network, explore the nearby area, visit our exhibitors, or rest. The Avondale Room is available for reservations in 30-minute increments during the 2026 RNA conference's daily break times. Book the room to reserve space for organization meetings, editor meetings, committee get-togethers, and more. RNA will follow up with you to confirm your reservation. To request a reservation, fill out this form.
Panel - Faith on the Frontlines of Health Policy
Grounded in developments in Atlanta and the broader South, this panel will examine 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 will discuss 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.
SPEAKERS
Daniele Fallin
Rebecca Grapvine
Ellen Idler
MODERATOR
TBA
Coffee Break (Optional Freelancers Meet-Up)
Enjoy a coffee-and-snack break between panels and take the opportunity to network with your fellow attendees! Freelancers are welcome to join a meet-up in the general session room — look for the tables with the “Freelancer Meetup” table tents.
Panel - Covering Immigration: Lessons from the Frontlines of the Deportation Battle (Sponsored by The Conversation U.S., Religion News Service, and the Associated Press)
Details to come.
SPEAKERS
Ramazan Kılınç
Ramazan Kılınç is Professor of Political Science and Director of the School of Government and International Affairs at Kennesaw State University. Before joining Kennesaw State University, he served as Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Chair of Political Science Graduate Program, and Director of the Islamic Studies Program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He received his Ph.D. (2008) from Arizona State University and M.A. (2001) and B.A. (1999) from Bilkent University, Turkey. He is the author of Alien Citizens: The State and Religious Minorities in Turkey and France (Cambridge University Press, 2019) and co-author of Generating Generosity in Catholicism and Islam: Beliefs, Institutions and Public Goods Provision (Cambridge University Press, 2018). His most recent articles appeared in Journal of Democracy, Comparative Politics, Political Science Quarterly, Politics and Religion, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, Turkish Studies, and Muslim World Journal of Human Rights.
MODERATOR
TBA
Workshop - Digging Deeper: Reporting Tools for Accountability Journalism
This two-part, skills-focused workshop offers practical reporting tools journalists can use across beats. In the first segment, Joshua Eaton will cover public records strategies, FOIA requests, and investigative techniques for uncovering information and navigating resistance from institutions. In the second segment, Adam Rhodes will focus on source diversity, backgrounding, data use, and interview preparation, sharing concrete ways reporters can broaden sourcing and strengthen the depth and context of their reporting. Together, the sessions provide a hands-on toolkit for stronger, more informed journalism.
SPEAKERS
Joshua Eaton
Joshua Eaton is an investigative reporter at Hearst Connecticut Media Group, where his work helped lead to the first major update to the state’s freedom of information law in decades. Before joining Hearst, Joshua was on feature and investigations teams at NBC News, CQ Roll Call and ThinkProgress. His work has also appeared at ProPublica, The Washington Post, The Christian Science Monitor, Religion News Service, Sojourners, Tricycle: The Buddhist Review and elsewhere. Joshua has successfully sued the FBI and the CIA for public records under the Freedom of Information Act. He holds a master of divinity from Harvard Divinity School.
Adam Rhodes
Adam Rhodes is an award winning Latine journalist whose work primarily focuses on queer people and the criminal legal system. Their recent work has examined anti-LGBTQ+ bias in dozens of death penalty cases, HIV criminalization laws around the country, anti-trans disinformation, and more. Their work has been published in outlets including Bolts, them.us, The Nation, and BuzzFeed News. Before joining IRE, they were a staff writer at the Chicago Reader. At IRE, they conduct training at IRE's three conferences, workshops, bootcamps and webinars. Adam also is managing editor of IRE's online publication, the IRE Journal.
Unofficial Outing - Karaoke Night
Unofficial after-hours outing to Roaring Social Decatur, which is a short walk from the hotel, for karaoke night. Interested attendees can meet in the lobby at 8:00 p.m. to walk over together.
Please note that participants are responsible for all costs for this outing.
Panel - Atlanta Civil Rights Movements and Historical Coverage
Details to come.
SPEAKERS
Reverend Dwight D. Andrews
Don Bender
Rabbi Peter Berg
Peter Berg is the Senior Rabbi of The Temple: The Hebrew Benevolent Congregation. The Temple is Atlanta’s oldest and largest synagogue, founded in 1867.
Rabbi Berg was named by Newsweek and The Daily Beast as one of the most influential rabbis in United States, by Georgia Trend as one of the 100 most influential Georgians, and by Atlanta Magazine as one of Atlanta’s most powerful leaders.
Rabbi Peter Berg lives in Atlanta with his wife Karen and three children – Matan, Noah, and Lior.
Mary C. Curtis
Mary C. Curtis is an award-winning journalist, podcast host and educator. She writes columns for Roll Call, hosts its “Equal Time” podcast, is featured on Charlotte NPR-affiliate WFAE, has worked at The New York Times and Charlotte Observer, with coverage specialty the intersection of politics, culture and race. She has contributed to NPR, The Washington Post, MSNBC and CNN. Curtis is Senior Facilitator with The OpEd Project, leading “Write to Change the World” seminars at Yale University, Ford Foundation and Aspen New Voices in South Africa.
Curtis was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University, and was chosen for The HistoryMakers, archived in the Library of Congress, which celebrates African American achievement.
Honored by Society of Professional Journalists, National Association of Black Journalists, received the Thomas Wolfe Award for an examination of Confederate heritage groups, and, in 2022, the Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists.
Featured essays in “We Refuse to Be Silent: Women’s Voices on Justice for Black Men,” “Now What: The Voters Have Spoken, Essays on Life After Trump,” “Covering Politics in the Age of Trump” and “Love Her, Love Her Not: The Hillary Paradox.”
Member of St. Gabriel Catholic Church, Charlotte.
Robert Franklin
Reverend Doctor Kevin R. Murriel
Sonia Ross
MODERATOR
Adelle Banks
Panel - 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 will examine this behavior, how this manifests itself, its sound and sight displays, and its occasional extremes.
SPEAKERS
Professor Kirk Bowman
Luis Andres Henao
Professor Vicki Michaelis
MODERATOR
Dave Schechter
Break / Free Time
Free time to network, explore the nearby area, visit our exhibitors, or rest. The Avondale Room is available for reservations in 30-minute increments during the 2026 RNA conference's daily break times. Book the room to reserve space for organization meetings, editor meetings, committee get-togethers, and more. RNA will follow up with you to confirm your reservation. To request a reservation, fill out this form.
Panel - Help! Tips on Covering News with Centuries of Critical Religious Backstory
Details to come.
SPEAKERS
Mat McDermott
Angad Singh
Dina Zingaro
MODERATOR
Deepa Bharath
Coffee Break (Optional Freelancers Meet-Up)
Enjoy a coffee-and-snack break between panels and take the opportunity to network with your fellow attendees! Freelancers are welcome to join a meet-up in the general session room — look for the tables with the “Freelancer Meetup” table tents.
Panel - Five Years Later: The Pandemic’s Impact on Congregational Life (Sponsored by Hartford Institute for Religion Research)
This session will release 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 will also reveal the shape and vitality of faith communities in a post-pandemic religious landscape. Join project researchers and clergy commentators as we explore 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
Joel Moody
MODERATOR
TBA
Unofficial Outing - Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Unofficial outing to watch the Atlanta Braves face off against the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park. Interested parties should contact Bobby Ross Jr. at bobby@christianchronicle.org.
Please note that participants are responsible for all costs for this outing, including transportation and tickets.
RNS/Interfaith America Religion Journalism Fellowship Networking Reception (Sponsored by Religion News Foundation)
Celebrate and network with the 2025-26 RNS/IA Religion Journalism Fellows cohort! There will be 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 allows you to share your expertise, wisdom, and insights with our Fellows and learn more about our program and how to get involved.
Break / Free Time
Free time to network, explore the nearby area, visit our exhibitors, or rest. The Avondale Room is available for reservations in 30-minute increments during the 2026 RNA conference's daily break times. Book the room to reserve space for organization meetings, editor meetings, committee get-togethers, and more. RNA will follow up with you to confirm your reservation. To request a reservation, fill out this form.
Open Mic
The mic is on! Join us for an informal get together with our beloved RNA member musicians, Late Night Provocateurs, and other performers ahead of the evening festivities.
Silent Auction
Join us before the banquet to bid on our 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.
Silent auction winners will be announced at the end of the banquet. Winners must be present to pay and collect their wins. Payments will be cashless.
Religion News Association is a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by the law. Please consult your tax advisor for more information. RNA’s EIN is 54-1486927. RNA’s principal address is in Alexandria, Virginia.
Celebration and Awards Banquet (Sponsored by Religion News Foundation)
As the conference concludes, join colleagues for an evening of reflection and celebration. The closing dinner will feature the announcement of the 2026 Excellence in Religion Reporting Award winners, honoring outstanding work from across the field. The Religion News Foundation is 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.