To address increased political polarization and social distrust, Aspen’s Religion & Society Program (RSP) proposes to help journalists better understand the power, limits, and possibilities of religious pluralism. This grant will support two carefully curated convenings of top journalists to explore critical issues of culture, politics, and history through the lens of religion in conversation with premier theologians, scholars, and clergy. These gatherings take place away from the pressures of newsrooms, inviting journalists into meaningful engagement with the topics at hand as well as with one another.
This grant will support two of the planned six US-based Faith Angle Forums over the next two years, one (of three total) in 2026 and one (of three total) in 2027. It will also support development and production of the Faith Angle podcast. The outcomes from Faith Angle are improved understanding of the role of religion in society among journalists; a network of journalists that is supported in their religion reporting; and better coverage of religion and religious communities.