When it comes to news on religion or religious organizations, news outlets often cover soup suppers or scandals — and not a lot in between.
There’s more to religion than those extremes, and the mining of quality stories about faith, spirituality and core beliefs can be invaluable — to news outlets, religious organizations and the public.
You’ll have a chance to gain a better understanding when the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association (NINA) hosts a unique learning experience — part news-training exercise, part summit — featuring some of the top religious leaders in northern Illinois.
They will include Bishop David Malloy, Catholic Diocese of Rockford; Rabbi Margaret Frisch Klein, Elgin; Todd Hertz of Christ Community Church; and Mohammed Labadi of the DeKalb Islamic Center. (Bios are available here.)
Bishop David Malloy, Rabbi Margaret Frisch Klein, Todd Hertz and Mohammed Labadi
The event will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, April 12, in room 100 of NIU’s Campus Life Building, with doughnuts, coffee, registration and networking starting at 9 a.m. The event is free to NIU faculty, staff and students; $20 for NINA members and $25 for members of the public.
To register in advance, call Shelley Hendricks at 815-753-4239 or fill out this Google form.
Journalism students and members of the media will get practical, hands-on training, including handouts on religious-story ideas, contact lists and links to online resources. The event also promises to provide insights from religious leaders on the stories that are being missed.
Stay tuned to the NINA website or sign up for the NINA e-newsletter for more details.
