International Association of Religion Journalists

In this interview in our Journalism Spotlight series, religion reporter Deepa Bharath of the Orange County Register (Southern California News Group) discusses the challenges of covering faith and religion in her part of the world.

Many of us at the IARJ are directly affected by the Coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic. We are publishing this sample of spiritual wisdom we have collected from around the world as a way to encourage all journalists to report on this vital theme in the crisis. At their best, religious leaders around the world can inspire billions of families to cope with the anxiety and to remain compassionate toward their neighbors.

U.S.-based religion writer Niraj Warikoo dialogues with Algeria-based journalist Larbi Megari, one of the long-time leaders of the IARJ, about story ideas that they hope will spark the attention of their colleagues in 2020.

Investigative journalist Erick Kabendera, a founding member of the International Association of Religion Journalists (IARJ), has been released from prison in Tanzania. The IARJ joins in the responses of Amnesty International and the Committee to Project Journalists in decrying this harsh treatment of a journalist whose only goal has been to make the world a better place with honest, fair and balanced reporting.

Journalists around the world are scrambling to follow the spread of COVID 19, also known as Coronavirus. To encourage other religion journalists to report on the impact, Elisa Di Bendetto writes: “I live in the Veneto region of Italy, about 120 km from the locked down town of Vo’ Euganeo and 60 km from the nearest cases, and I can report first-hand that confirmed cases of the virus dramatically change life for people of faith.”