Peter Lang Gmbh, Internationaler Verlag Der Wissenschaften Spiritual News: Reporting Religion Around the World

The media's coverage of religion is an important question for academic researchers, given the central role which news media play in ensuring that people are up-to-date with religion news developments. Not only is there a lack of treatment of the subject in other countries, but there is also the absence of comparative study on news and religion. A key question is how the media, the political system, the religions themselves, the culture, and the economy influence how religion is reported in different countries. Spiritual News: Reporting Religion Around the World is intended to fill this gap. The book is divided into six parts: an introductory section; the newsgathering process; religion reporting in different regions; media events concerning religion; political and social change and the role of religion news; future trends. Review "In this polished, well-balanced volume of research essays by more than two dozen scholars of media, religion, and cultural identity [...] Professor Yoel Cohen has advanced the body of knowledge about how the global media cconomy has accelerated the pace of change in media convergence, while mediatization muddies the ideologieal waters where constmctions of cultural identity exacerbate nationalistic fervor. In a first-rate editorial and academic effort, Professor Cohen has captured the essence of contemporary debates across the globe among scholars in the field." (Claire Badaracco, Communication Research Trends, 37/2018) "The main strength of this volume is its diversity in terms of religious traditions, media forms, and geographical locations. In addition, the book stands out among recent media and religion books for the focus on news media instead of delving into more trendy topics of popular culture or social media." (Kristin M. Peterson, Electronic News, 13/2019) "Cohen has accomplished much in bringing us new and understudied regions and topics. Scholars will welcome these variations, whilst students will appreciate a diverse collection of essays that gives a good picture of the dynamic field of religion and journalism." (Michael B. Munnik, Journal of Religion, Media and Digital Culture, 8/2019) "The variety and interest of the topics covered in Spiritual News: Reporting Religion around the World is a new demonstration that--contrary to certain forecasts--religion is still alive, also in the field of communication. [...O]ne of the book's accomplishments is its structure and the variety of perspectives of the nineteen studies that make it up." (Diego Contreras, Church, Communication and Culture, 4/2019) About the Author Professor Yoel Cohen is on the faculty of the School of Communication, Ariel University, Israel. His research interests include religion and news; and media and religion in Israel and Judaism. His book publications include God, Jews & the Media: Religion & Israel’s Media; Whistleblowers and the Bomb; and Media Diplomacy: The Foreign Office in the Mass Communications Age. He is co-convenor of the Religion, Communication and Culture working group, The International Association for Media & Communication Research (IAMCR).