Faith and Media: Analysis of Faith and Media: Representation and Communication (Dieux, Hommes et Religions / Gods, Humans and Religions)

In the past, ideologies and religions had a real impact on the media. In the current era of mass media and communication strategies, perception takes priority over identity and new questions arise: how to introduce faith and religion in a pluralising and detraditionalising world? What possibilities are offered by the new media? How can technical innovations be incorporated in church communication?
Following the conference Belief in the Media (April 2007), this publication focuses on the gap between the language of faith and the language of the general media. The different contributors analyse, from within – but also from outside – a church context, the historical changes and challenges the Catholic Church and other faiths and denominations face with regard to their social communication and media strategies. However it is not only the relationship of religious institutions with the media that is at stake, but also the way in which the media cover topics such as the Middle East, Muslim immigrant populations in Europe, and the World Youth Day. Journalists have to find new ways to get a grip on these issues too.

The Editors: Hans Geybels is professor at the Department of Pastoral Theology (K.U. Leuven) and spokesperson of Cardinal Danneels.
Sara Mels is project coordinator at the University Centre Saint-Ignatius Antwerp (UCSIA).
Michel Walrave is professor at the Department of Communication Sciences at the University of Antwerp.