Roundtable examines religion in media

A group of leading national journalists will discuss a new study, "Religion in the Media," from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, at the Interfaith Chapel. The discussion will center around the results of the first comprehensive post-9/11 study of how national media treats religions.

Visiting journalists include Fred Barnes, The Weekly Standard; Michael Barone, U.S. News &World Report; Susan Lee, Wall Street Journal; Karen Magnuson, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle; Walter Shapiro, USA Today; Juan Williams, National Public Radio; and John Zogby, Zogby International.

The University study included an analysis by 30 students in the Department of Religion and Classics Senior Seminar. Drawing from 12 major national newspapers, the students identified and examined the content and context of articles referencing religion.

"The research was based on the premise that people learn about other people's religion, beliefs, and worship based in large part on what they read in the press," says William Scott Green, Phillip S. Bernstein Professor of Judaic Studies, professor of religion, and dean of the College. "The research sought to determine how religion is presented and treated in news coverage around the nation. In a time when war and peace focuses largely on religion, this subject has never been more timely."

Moderating the discussion are the University's seminar directors, Green and Curt Smith, senior lecturer in the Department of English and former presidential speechwriter. Admission to the event is free.

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