The global faith and media study: a groundbreaking study of attitudes and perceptions regarding faith and religion in the media
HarrisX; Radiant Foundation; Faith & Media Initiative
(2022), 23 pp.
"There is a growing gap between the coverage of religion and the needs of the faithful–global desire for better coverage, understanding and representation of faith in media. 53%of respondents [of the online survey among 9,489 adults in 18 countries across six continents] say the media actively ignores religion as an aspect of society and culture today. 59% of respondents believe it’s important that the news media covers a diverse set of faith and religious perspectives or content. 63% of people globally said that high quality content on faith and religion is needed in their respective countries. People want faith and religious stereotypes to be addressed: 61% say media perpetuates these stereotypes rather than protects against them. 78% believe such stereotypes should get the same or more attention as race and gender stereotypes. 8 in 10 believe faith and religious groups must provide more relevant spokespeople. Over 85% want more diversity and lived experiences from these representatives (among those who feel faith and media groups must do more). Journalists feel that coverage of faith & religion is poor, inconsistent, and becoming more marginalized. They express fear around ’getting right’ religious coverage, particularly in largely secular newsrooms. Religious stories are not seen as a good fit for ‘hard’ news, easier to do ‘soft’ coverage and focus ‘hard’ news on times of controversy or scandal." (Findings at-a-glance, p.5)
"Part One of the Global Faith and Media Index study consisted of 30+ in-depth interviews with English-speaking journalists who are geographically distributed across 6 continents and write in English and/or local languages. Part Two of the Index study was conducted between August 26-September 9, 2022 among 9,489 adults in 18 countries across six continents via online surveys and covers the world’s major religions with translations and localizations in English, Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, French and Arabic. The study included minimum benchmarks for religious and non-religious individuals to reflect the general population of each country. The results were weighted for age, gender, race, language, and religion where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population of each country. The sampling margin of error of this global poll is plus or minus 1.0 percentage points." (p.2)
Contents
The Inaugural Global Faith and Media Index, 2
Global Faith and Media Index Methodology, 3
Index looks at a range of countries from highly faithful/ religious to secular, 4
Findings At-a-Glance, 5
WHAT THE MEDIA IS SAYING
There is universal agreement among journalists that coverage about faith & religionhas become more marginalized due to a set of newsroom dynamics, 7
Consistent themes: the newsroom environment is skewed againstcoverage of faith and religion, 8
Consistent themes: religious and faith-based contentis better engaged with through a human, cultural and ‘lifestyle’ lens, 9
Consistent themes: the ambition to explore faith-based topics is hindered by news media's current success metrics and a lack of diversity in the newsroom, 10
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Around 1 in 3 global respondents follow media sources focused on faith-based news; number increases to 47% in highly faithful/religious countries, 12
63% say there is need for high quality content on faith and religion, 13
There is strong agreement that the news media needs to cover a diverse set of faith and religious perspectives or content, 14
56% say they are more likely to engage with a publication with high-quality faith and religious reporting, 15
56% of respondents want more coverage of complex religious issues, showing that a robust market exists for in-depth coverage of religion among the world's media orgs, 16
53% of respondents believe the media actively ignores religionrather than appropriately addressing it, 17
43% feel that the media’s current approach to faith and religious coverage creates unease and anxiety, even more so among secular nations, 18
There is a strong perception that the media perpetuates faith-based stereotypes, with similar findings across secular, middle of the way, and highly faithful/religious groups, 19
Majority think that religious stereotypes should get the same or more attentionas race and gender stereotypes, 20
Most perpetuated stereotypes: most religions are against homosexuality; abuse children; promote radicalism; hinder women, 21
84% say faith and religious groups need to provide the media with relevant spokespeople, particularly representatives with lived experience, 22
Global Faith and Media Index Methodology, 3
Index looks at a range of countries from highly faithful/ religious to secular, 4
Findings At-a-Glance, 5
WHAT THE MEDIA IS SAYING
There is universal agreement among journalists that coverage about faith & religionhas become more marginalized due to a set of newsroom dynamics, 7
Consistent themes: the newsroom environment is skewed againstcoverage of faith and religion, 8
Consistent themes: religious and faith-based contentis better engaged with through a human, cultural and ‘lifestyle’ lens, 9
Consistent themes: the ambition to explore faith-based topics is hindered by news media's current success metrics and a lack of diversity in the newsroom, 10
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Around 1 in 3 global respondents follow media sources focused on faith-based news; number increases to 47% in highly faithful/religious countries, 12
63% say there is need for high quality content on faith and religion, 13
There is strong agreement that the news media needs to cover a diverse set of faith and religious perspectives or content, 14
56% say they are more likely to engage with a publication with high-quality faith and religious reporting, 15
56% of respondents want more coverage of complex religious issues, showing that a robust market exists for in-depth coverage of religion among the world's media orgs, 16
53% of respondents believe the media actively ignores religionrather than appropriately addressing it, 17
43% feel that the media’s current approach to faith and religious coverage creates unease and anxiety, even more so among secular nations, 18
There is a strong perception that the media perpetuates faith-based stereotypes, with similar findings across secular, middle of the way, and highly faithful/religious groups, 19
Majority think that religious stereotypes should get the same or more attentionas race and gender stereotypes, 20
Most perpetuated stereotypes: most religions are against homosexuality; abuse children; promote radicalism; hinder women, 21
84% say faith and religious groups need to provide the media with relevant spokespeople, particularly representatives with lived experience, 22
