Description
Book SynopsisThe media''s coverage of religion is an important question for academic researchers, given the central role which news media play in ensuring that people are up-to-date with religion news developments. Not only is there a lack of treatment of the subject in other countries, but there is also the absence of comparative study on news and religion. A key question is how the media, the political system, the religions themselves, the culture, and the economy influence how religion is reported in different countries. Spiritual News: Reporting Religion Around the World is intended to fill this gap. The book is divided into six parts: an introductory section; the newsgathering process; religion reporting in different regions; media events concerning religion; political and social change and the role of religion news; future trends.
Trade Review“Cohen has accomplished much in bringing us new and understudied regions and topics. Scholars will welcome these variations, whilst students will appreciate a diverse collection of essays that gives a good picture of the dynamic field of religion and journalism.” (Michael B. Munnik,
Journal of Religion, Media and Digital Culture, 8/2019)
“The variety and interest of the topics covered in
Spiritual News: Reporting Religion around the World is a new demonstration that—contrary to certain forecasts—religion is still alive, also in the field of communication. […O]ne of the book’s accomplishments is its structure and the variety of perspectives of the nineteen studies that make it up.” (Diego Contreras,
Church, Communication and Culture, 4/2019)
"The main strength of this volume is its diversity in terms of religious traditions, media forms, and geographical locations. In addition, the book stands out among recent media and religion books for the focus on news media instead of delving into more trendy topics of popular culture or social media." (Kristin M. Peterson,
Electronic News, 13/2019)
"In this polished, well-balanced volume of research essays by more than two dozen scholars of media, religion, and cultural identity [...] Professor Yoel Cohen has advanced the body of knowledge about how the global media cconomy has accelerated the pace of change in media convergence, while mediatization muddies the ideologieal waters where constmctions of cultural identity exacerbate nationalistic fervor. In a first-rate editorial and academic effort, Professor Cohen has captured the essence of contemporary debates across the globe among scholars in the field."
(Claire Badaracco,
Communication Research Trends, 37/2018)
Table of ContentsYoel Cohen: Introduction: Religion News in the Twenty-First Century – Stewart Hoover: Religion and the News in the Age of Media Change – Joyce Smith: Foreign News—The ‘Religion Story’ – Yoel Cohen: The Religion Reporter – Miriam Diez Bosch: The Vaticanologists: Covering the Holy See – Tim Hutchings: Digital Futures of Religion Journalism – Daniel A. Stout: Convergence, Digital Media, and the Paradigm Shift in Religion News in the United States – Victor Khroul: Religion and News Media in Post-Soviet Russia – Magali do Nascimento Cunha: Religious Exclusivism and Roman Catholicism in the Brazilian News Media – Walter C. Ihejirika/Andrew D. Dewan: Development Journalism and Religion Reporting: The Nigerian Case – Keval J. Kumar: Reporting Religion in Indian News Media: Hindu Nationalism, ‘Reconversions’ and the Secular State – Qingjiang Yao/Zhaoxi Liu: Media and Religion in China: Publicizing Gods Under Atheistic Governance – Giulia Evolvi: Habemus Papas: Pope Francis’ Election as a Religious Media Event – Leo Eko: The Argument of Force Versus the Force of Argument: The Charlie Hebdo Terrorist Attack as a Global Meta Event – Noha Mellor: Religious Ideologies and News Ethics: The Case of Saudi Arabia – Haryati Abd ul Karim: Sinners or Alternative Identities? Contrasting Discourses on LGBT Communities in Two Malaysian Dailies – Yoel Cohen: Holy Days, News Media, and Religious Identity: A Case Study in Jewish Holy Days and the Israeli Press and News Websites – Daniel Arasa/Lorenzo Cantoni/Juan Narbona: The Catholic Church and Twitter – Christian Bourret/Karim Fraoua: Religion, Social Media and Societal Changes: The Case of "Marriage for All" in France – Babak Rahimi: Internet News, Media Technologies, and Islam: The Case of Shafaqna – Contributors – Index.
